EU Suspends Some Palestinian Aid

The European Union has suspended 35 million euros ($42 million) in aid to the Palestinians, citing their lack of budgetary discipline, [Smooth: not because of their lack of conscience and morality] EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner said on Tuesday. "We have not paid because the benchmarks have not been fulfilled," she said. "There has to be a credible finance minister, but there also has to be a budget and the budget should also remain within the limits of what the budget has foreseen," she said.