Investigative reporter Yoav Yitzchak reports in Ma\'ariv today that one of the staunchest Oslo-proponents, former Labor Party MK Yossi Beilin, is drawing a monthly salary of approximately NIS 30,000 from an organization that is mostly funded by the European Union. The Economic Cooperation Foundation (ECF), an organization that Beilin formed with Oslo-architect Yair Hirschfeld in 1990, pays Beilin\'s salary as well as travel expenses for his trips to meet overseas with Palestinians in Europe. \"For all practical purposes,\" Yitzchak writes, \"the European Union is paying for Beilin to negotiate with the Palestinians.\"
The European Union will debate a French proposal next week that calls for the immediate declaration of a Palestinian state, even before a cease-fire is reached. French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine presented the plan for debate to his 14 colleagues at a EU meeting in Spain yesterday. U.S. spokesmen implied that this plan would not be acceptable, and that a cease-fire must take effect before political changes are sought.
The European Union will debate a French proposal next week that calls for the immediate declaration of a Palestinian state, even before a cease-fire is reached. French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine presented the plan for debate to his 14 colleagues at a EU meeting in Spain yesterday. U.S. spokesmen implied that this plan would not be acceptable, and that a cease-fire must take effect before political changes are sought.