Madrid: Spain has voiced its unwavering commitment to supporting Palestine by mobilizing international donor countries to renew a crucial initiative aimed at securing new financial grants. This initiative, coordinated with Saudi Arabia, France, and Norway, seeks to bolster the 'Emergency Alliance for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Government' fund, enabling the Palestinian government to maintain essential services amidst ongoing financial challenges.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the renewed initiative comes in response to Israel's continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority under existing agreements, for nine consecutive months. Discussions on this matter took place between Palestinian Minister of Finance and Planning Estephan Salameh and senior Spanish officials during his recent visit to Madrid, following an invitation from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Salameh emphasized that Spain and its partners are actively working to secure international grants for the fund, with hopes of involving additional donor countries in the future. He highlighted Spain's unconditional support for Palestine, which has been instrumental in sustaining the Palestinian government's financial commitments, including salaries and essential sector expenditures.
Previously, the International Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, led by France and Saudi Arabia, provided $200 million to the fund, with Saudi Arabia contributing $90 million. These contributions have been vital in helping the Ministry of Finance meet its obligations despite the ongoing financial blockade.
In addition to financial support, Spain has pledged to increase developmental aid to Palestine, amounting to 75 million pounds over the next two years. This includes allocations for budget support and enhanced funding for UNRWA and humanitarian initiatives in Gaza and the West Bank. Salameh expressed gratitude for Spain's political backing of Palestinian rights and its influential role within European Union institutions in mobilizing financial and political assistance. He urged EU member states to take concrete action against Israeli policies that threaten to alter the status quo.
During his visit, Salameh met with key Spanish figures, including Foreign Minister Jos© Manuel Albares, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Diego Martnez Belo, Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports Milagros Tol³n, Chairwoman of the International Cooperation Committee in the Spanish Parliament Susana Ros Martnez, and Director-General of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation Ant³n Leis Garca.