UN Worried of Partial Collapse in PNA, Demands Urgent Funds to the Palestinians

GAZA - - The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, warned Wednesday that if the economic deterioration continues in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) might face a partial collapse.

In the aftermath of a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Ireland, which is the rotating president of the European Union, Brian Cowen, Mr. Annan told reporters, "we share concern regarding the economic, social and humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories."

"I have called to offer more financial support to them (the Palestinians), because I fear that if the situation goes on like that, we might see true despair and maybe a partial collapse of the Palestinian Authority," Annan said.

The UN Secretary General said that the UN and the EU are both worried about the situation in the Middle East, and the deadlock currently present in the implementation of the "Road Map" peace plan.

"We have discussed the 'Road Map' and what the Quartet committee can do to revive the peace process. We need to find means to break the deadlock. We need to find a way to bring both sides to the negotiations table," Annan added.

Annan's remarks came concurrent with the statements made by the UN Middle East peace envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen, in which he called on the Israeli authorities to abide by the international law, and take the necessary steps to ensure its forces do not threaten and kill the Palestinian civilians.

Larsen's statements came in a press release issued early today in New York, after the massacre the Israeli occupying forces committed south of Gaza City yesterday. The press release also demanded that the Israeli government implement the articles of the international law relative to the protection of civilians at the time of war.