Palestinians asked the United States to intervene so that the Paris economic agreement can be re-evaluated at the first high level joint meeting in Ramallah in which economic dialogue between the two parties was re-established after it was stopped a decade ago.
The Palestinian Minister of Finance Dr Shukri Bishara accused Israel of violating the Paris economic agreement and spoke at length about the financial and legal impacts of these violations on the Palestinian economy. Bishara asked for the Paris economic agreement and the deduction that Israel has taken away from Palestinian tax revenue funds to be re-evaluated.
Bishara also pointed out that Israel does not carry out its obligations according to the Paris agreement, and that the Palestinian government estimated a loss of about $ 300 million a year. He called on the US to put pressure on Israel to fulfil its obligations under the signed agreements.
Bishara took part in the economic dialogue on the Palestinian side which was led by the National Economy Minister Abeer Odeh. The Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology Dr Allam Mousa and the Minister of the Palestinian Water Authority Mazen Ghoneim also attended the meeting. The US delegation was headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles H. Rivkin, and the Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade Kenneth E. Hyatt and the American Consul General Donald Blome also participated.
Bishara said that the Israeli measures and obstacles and the economic conditions are responsible for the decline in the growth of the Palestinian economy. He added that despite the political situation and the reduction of external support by half during the last three years, the government has managed to accomplish several achievements including the reform of the public finance administration, a reduction of the deficit, an increase in revenue and a reduction in private sector debts.
Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities. Launched in London in 1978, Asharq Al-Awsat has established itself as the decisive publication on pan-Arab and international affairs, offering its readers in-depth analysis and exclusive editorials, as well as the most comprehensive coverage of the entire Arab world.
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