International donors on December 17 pledged, billion of dollars to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his West Bank government, while charities and UN agencies warned that Gaza Strip was on the brink of collapse.
“Without this support, without the payment of aid that will allow the Palestinian treasury to fulfill its role, we will be facing a total catastrophe in the West Bank and Gaza,” Abbas told the one-day Paris donor conference.
His Prime Minister Salam Fayyad asked donors for $5.6 billion by 2010, including $3.9 billion in direct support to the budget, to jumpstart a near-collapse Palestinian economy. “To make this vision reality, we need your financial, political and moral support,” said Fayyad, a West-favored economist appointed by Abbas after sacking elected premier Ismail Haniya following Hamas takeover of Gaza in June.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the donors have pledged $7.4 billion for Abbas and his government. The US announced a donation of $555 million for 2008, saying the pledge was a “vote of confidence” in Fayyad’s government. The European Commission pledged $650 million in aid for 2008, while Britain announced a three-year aid package of up to $490 million. French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged $300 million in immediate aid while Sweden offered $300 million in 2007 and 2008. Germany pledged $200 million and oil-rich Saudi Arabia $450 million.
The one-day conference brought together representatives of more than 90 countries and organisations.