RAMALLAH, December 15,2009 (WAFA)– Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, U.S. Consul General Daniel Rubinstein, USAID West Bank/Gaza Mission Director Howard Sumka and Director General for External Relations at the PA Ministry of Finance Mazen Jadallah announced the delivery of $75 million in budget support for the PA during a ceremony today at the Council of Ministers in Ramallah.
The Consul General noted that President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad have established a two-year program to build the institutions of a modern state, and to develop the Palestinian economy and civil society institutions. The Consul General added, “The President and Prime Minister have our strong support in fulfilling the goals and priorities of this program, which we see as integral to U.S. efforts to help achieve a two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the region.”
This $75 million is an advance of 50% of an overall U.S. commitment in direct budget assistance to the PA for the coming year, and comes in direct response to a request from the Prime Minister. Quoting the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, George Mitchell, the Consul General said, 'Fundamental to our goal of achieving a peaceful Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel, we must pursue political, economic and security tracks simultaneously and in integrated fashion. It is critical to match our efforts to restart negotiations and to move discussions meaningfully on the political track with efforts to build the Palestinian state.' By supporting the PA, the United States seeks to ensure that the PA has the tools and resources it needs to build the institutions of a Palestinian State living in peace and security with its neighbors.
With this transfer, the United States will have provided more than $575 million in direct budget support to the PA. In addition, the U.S. Government continues an active humanitarian and development assistance program in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The United States is the largest single national donor to Palestinians, committing more than $700 million in assistance in 2009. In addition, the U.S. Government provided $268 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for assistance to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria in 2009.
