LONDON, March 16, 2007 (WAFA) - The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) congratulated the Palestinians on their achievement of an agreement on a national unity cabinet.

"We call on the British government and the European Union to recognise and fully support the democratically elected Palestinian government, and we welcome the news that the EU is at last considering an end to the year-long international boycott, and urge it to restore aid to the Palestinians immediately," said PSC in a press release.

Sarah Colborne, Chair of PSC expressed disappointment at Israel's response to the announcement of the new cabinet. She stated, "To call it a 'step backwards' is a rejection of Palestinian efforts to resolve their internal conflict and to respect their people's democratic decision. Israel demands that the Palestinians renounce violence and honour previous agreements, while itself doing neither. Israeli violence continues with the daily killing and maiming of innocent Palestinians, including children, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. Settlement expansion in the West Bank - in violation of previous agreements, including the Oslo Agreement, and international law - also continues unabated."

PSC called upon the British government to fully welcome and engage with the new Palestinian unity government, and to call on Israel to do the same.

It also called on the British Government to immediately work for the restoration of EU aid to the Palestinian National Authority.

A.D (23:50P) (21:50GMT)