Special report: Hamas-led cabinet takes office

    RAMALLAH, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United States on Monday to immediately stop isolating the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) following the swearing-in of Hamas-led government.

    Abbas made the appeal during a meeting with Jack Wallas, the U.S. consul in Jerusalem, at his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

    The meeting came after the U.S. and the EU commission announced suspension of direct financial aid to the PNA last Friday since the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) refused to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept previous agreements with Israel.

    Official sources at Abbas' headquarters said that Abbas had made a series of contacts with U.S. and European diplomats in addition to arranging visits soon to several Arab and European countries.

    "President Abbas told the U.S. consul that carrying out collective punishments against the Palestinians, along with the current Israeli military escalation, would certainly lead to a humanitarian crisis on Palestinian territories," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters.

    Abbas also warned against the proposed Israeli unilateral plans to fix final Israel-Palestinian borders in the occupied West Bank.Enditem