BRUSSELS, June 16: The European Union agreed on Friday on an aid scheme for Palestinians bypassing the Hamas-led government and said it was close to winning the backing of the United States and other Middle East peace brokers. “The European Council has endorsed our proposal for a temporary international mechanism,” European Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin told a news briefing of an agreement reached by the bloc’s 25 member states at a summit in Brussels.

She said the EU was now “very, very close” to getting the endorsement of the so-called Quartet of international Middle East peace brokers — the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union.

The United States said on Friday the plan looked promising but withheld its final support to allow more discussion of the scheme.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters envoys from the mediators, the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the EU, would meet later on Friday to hold further talks.

The plan covers essential supplies to the health sector and payments to healthcare services providers, utilities including fuel, and cash allowances to cover the basic needs of the poorest sections of the population.

Both the EU and the United States suspended aid to the Palestinian Authority when Hamas refused to recognise Israel, but they recognised last month an emergency scheme was needed to prevent the Palestinian territories sliding into chaos.

There have been signs that the Europeans were at odds with Israel and the United States, which have opposed payments of salaries. The EU has suggested allowances that would be exceptional, non-contractual payments.—Reuters