RAMALLAH, August 27, 2017 (WAFA) – Chairman of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development & Reconstruction (PECDAR), Mohammad Shtayyeh, said on Sunday that President Mahmoud Abbas decided to transform the Presidential Guest Palace in Ramallah into a national library.

Shtayyeh said the palace, which has been under construction for five years by PECDAR, was first supposed to serve as accommodation of the president, where he would also receive foreign delegations. He said nonetheless, President Abbas decided to transform the palace into a superb and large national library.

According to Shtayyeh, PECDAR has completed all the works inside the palace, but they are still working on the outside facilities of the palace, including a green zone and a helicopter landing gear.

The palace has a total area of 4,700 square meters and is located in the town of Surda, just three kilometers north of Ramallah. It was designed and constructed by Palestinian architects in a manner resembling ancient Muslim architecture.

M.N