"Last hope" to finance Palestine
Palestinian government appeals for $5.6 billion (£2.8 billion) of international aid
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Monday, 17, Dec 2007 05:32
Efforts to create a financial aid package for the Palestinian territories are today taking place in Paris.
The US says the one-day talks, being attended by almost 100 countries and international organisations, represent the "last hope" to avoid the Palestinian government's financial meltdown.
Its president Mahmoud Abbas has asked for $5.6 billion (£2.8 billion) over the next three years, the majority of which it intended to reduce existing deficits.
He said that Palestinians faced "total catastrophe" if financial aid was not forthcoming.
Opening the talks, which follow November's Annapolis conference – the first fully-fledged peace talks in seven years – French president Nicolas Sarkozy called on donors to give their "financial, political and moral support".
At the Annapolis talks a commitment to create an independent Palestinian state by the end of 2008 was agreed upon by George Bush, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Mr Abbas.
Representing Israel at today's talks is foreign minister Tzipi Livni. She said that the restoration of the peace process went hand-in-hand with economic security.
"We have no desire to control Palestinian lives," she explained.
"We do not want the image of Israel in the Palestinian mind to be a soldier at a checkpoint."
Washington has already pledged $555 million (£275 million) worth of aid for the Palestinians.
US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said in Paris that there was now a "real opportunity to make progress toward the goal of two democratic states living side by side in peace and security".
"For these efforts to succeed, the continued and unwavering support of the international community is absolutely vital," Ms Rice continued.
"That is why we are here today, and not a moment too soon. The Palestinian Authority is experiencing a serious budgetary crisis. This conference is literally the government's last hope to avoid bankruptcy."
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