Mohammed Mar'i Saudi Gazette RAMALLAH – The European Union said on Friday it would provide €10 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to support 56,988 Palestinian families living in extreme poverty in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The EU representative office in Jerusalem said in a press statement, Saudi Gazette received a copy of it, that the eligible beneficiaries for the EU contribution are identified in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Finance. It added that the beneficiaries receive assistance through the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs national cash transfer program. The program provides a basic safety-net to the poorest and most vulnerable Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza through cash and in-kind assistance. The EU said that the contribution is provided through PEGASE, the financial mechanism launched in 2008 to support the Palestinian Authority Reform and Development Plan (2008-2010) and the subsequent PA Palestinian National Plan (2011-2013).
The statement added that the eligible beneficiaries in Gaza Strip will receive their allowance over-the-counter from 28 September 2013 to 31 October 2013 at the bank branch indicated by their social worker. Beneficiaries living in the West Bank will receive their allowance as of 29 September 2013 directly into their individual bank accounts.
“At the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee meeting in New York earlier this week, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to support the Palestinian people through partnership with the Palestinian Authority. Today we are seeking to ensure that the PA has the means to provide care and protection to those most in need,” said the EU Representative, John Gatt-Rutter. “But this substantial contribution is only part of the European Union's wider efforts, together with the Ministry of Social Affairs to build a sustainable and high quality social protection system for the benefit of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. These include our on-going technical assistance program to the Ministry of Social Affairs which aims to improve planning, coordination and delivery of social services with the participation of both civil society and the private sector”, added Gatt-Rutter. The development comes days after Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah asked for $500 million from donor nations in New York. Hamdallah said that the financial aid “will allow his government to face financial and economic challenges, meet its commitments and maintain public services.” The PA says it needs $150 million monthly to pay the salaries of its 148,000 civil and military employee. On July, Kerry suggested a $4 billion investment in the Palestinian economy as a way of fostering peace talks. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has said several times that peace with the Palestinians must grow from economic cooperation, using the term “economic peace.” The Palestinian leadership rejected of Netanyahu's plan saying it is aimed at “diverting the world's attention from the (Palestinian) political rights.” Palestinian and Israeli negotiators met for the sixth round of talks since negotiations were restarted at the end of July in Washington in an attempt to solve the final status issues; Jerusalem, refugees, boundaries, settlements and security. The parties, led by chief Palestinian negotiator Sa'eb Erekat and Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, made the talks under a complete media blackout, with the Israeli side not saying where or when they will take place, or even confirming their existence. Top Palestinian and Israeli officials lowered expectations from the relaunched peace talks.
