THE EUROPEAN UNION PLEDGED ON MONDAY TO RESUME PAYMENTS TO THE PALESTINIANS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT SAID A NEW AID MECHANISM NEEDED ISRAELI SUPPORT, REUTERS REPORTED. EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS EXPRESSED "SERIOUS CONCERN" ABOUT THE DETERIORATION IN THE HUMANITARIAN, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SITUATION IN THE GAZA AND WEST BANK THAT HAS FOLLOWED CUTS IN EU AND U.S. AID PAYMENTS. EU EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER SAID SHE HOPED AN AID MECHANISM PROPOSED LAST WEEK BY THE QUARTET OF MIDDLE EAST PEACE NEGOTIATORS THAT WOULD BYPASS THE HAMAS-LED GOVERNMENT COULD BE PUT IN PLACE BY JUNE. "WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES," FERRERO-WALDNER TOLD A NEWS BRIEFING.
