JERUSALEM, February 4, 2010 (WAFA)- The Government of the Netherlands made a contribution of 10,356,096 million (€1,964,134) towards January wage bill of 17,376 Palestinian civil policemen and members of civil defense services, such as fire-fighters and rescue services. More than 10,500 of the recipients of this payment are based in Gaza. The contribution has been channeled through PEGASE, the European mechanism for support to the Palestinians.

The contribution, which will be added to this month's payment of salaries by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance, represents the second and the last disbursement from an overall contribution of NIS 49.5 million from the Netherlands, to support the Palestinian Authority in meeting its wages bill. The first disbursement was made on 6 January 2010 and contributed to the payment of December salaries.

'The PEGASE mechanism is a very good way to support the Plan for statehood of the 13th Government, and rule of law reform in particular. Our contribution will ensure that the important work of the civil police and the civil defence can continue and that safety and security of the Palestinian population will further improve,' said Mr. Jack Twiss Quarles Van Ufford, the Head of the Netherlands Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

The contribution of the Government of the Netherlands complements the ongoing programme of EU assistance to the Palestinian Authority to ensure the continuous provision of essential public services, channelled through the EU's dedicated PEGASE mechanism. As well as helping the PA to meet a substantial proportion of its running costs, European funds support major reform and development programmes in key ministries, to help prepare the Palestinian Authority for statehood in line with the plan proposed in August 2009 by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

PEGASE channels EU assistance to help build a Palestinian State, in accordance with the priorities and needs identified by the Palestinian Authority. Launched by the European Commission on 1 February 2008, it is the main financing mechanism of the European Union, the largest donor to the Palestinians.

Since 2007 the EU has provided total assistance to the Palestinian people, including civil society organizations and refugees, averaging more than €500 million annually.