By Falastine Al-Remawi
RAMALLAH, February 1, 2011 (WAFA) – A US official said in a briefing on Tuesday in Ramallah that Palestine is ready to announce its state in 2011.
Michael Harvey, USAID mission director for the West Bank and Gaza, said “the progress that has been made by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in building the institutions of the state has made considerable progress and I share the World Bank assessment that if any agreement is made then Palestine is ready.”
He praised PA progress in rebuilding and improving their institutions.
Harvey also said that USAID anticipated budget to support the West Bank and Gaza is roughly $400 million for this year.
The fund will support many sectors in the West Bank and Gaza including private sectors, economic growth, six hospitals in Jerusalem, information technology, stone marble, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure projects such as roads, water, health care, sanitation and education, Harvey said.
He added that the support will focus this year on water issues and expanding projects in Gaza.
He admitted that it is hard for them to work in Gaza because of what he claimed was the constant interference and obstruction by Hamas.
Hamas has shut down Karni crossing, where goods from Israel enter Gaza, preventing all materials needed for reconstruction to pass through to Gaza, Harvey said.
He said that “the most important entry point has been the Karni crossing for years.”
He added, “Right now Hamas has effectively closed Karni by making it unsafe to use it, and they know this and yet they still do it. So if they are serious about allowing us to help rebuild Gaza then back off and open up Karni.”
Karni crossing is under Israeli control and opening or closing it is an Israeli decision.
Harvey specified the purposes of the USAID support in Palestine which are focusing on rebuilding and supporting the Palestinian institutions to enable them to provide better service for their people, supporting private sectors and reconnecting Palestine with international market place and supporting and empowering young people to enable them to participate in helping their society and building their future state.
The United States is the leading provider of bilateral economic and development assistance to the Palestinians, having provided $3.4 billion since 1994 for programs in the West Bank and Gaza.
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