Japan cuts aid to Palestinian Authority

(CBC) - Japan has become the latest country to withhold new aid money to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority until the group rejects violence against Israel.

A Foreign Ministry official said Tokyo wants Hamas to make it clear that it is committed to the Mideast peace process.

"Our stance is that we want to see whether it Hamas will adopt peaceful measures and participate in the peace process," ministry spokesperson Akira Chiba said.

"Until we have a clearer picture ... there won't be a situation where new aid would be given."

Japan's decision will not affect pre-existing aid projects such as repairing roads, building homes and food aid. Last month, Japan gave $6 million for humanitarian food aid in the Palestinian territory, through the United Nations World Food Programme.

Since 1993, Japan has given $840 million in aid to the Palestinians.

Before Hamas won parliamentary elections in January, the Palestinian Authority received about $1 billion a year in aid from Western nations.

Canada, the United States, Israel and European Union have since frozen aid to the Hamas-led government.

Quatar and Iran have each pledged $50 million to try to fill the gap and help the Palestinian Authority pay its 140,000 employees. It is already two weeks late in delivering March paycheques.

© the CBC, 2006