Norway contributes NOK 100 million in budget support to Palestine
Press release | Date: 24/05/2024 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
‘The financial situation for the Palestinian Authority is acute. They need money to pay for basic services, such as health and education, for the population. Therefore, Norway is now transferring NOK 100 million in budget support’, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.
The Palestinian Authority will use the money to finance important services in the health sector, including medicines and treatment at Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem.
The financial situation of the Palestinian Authority has seriously deteriorated in recent months due to the war in Gaza, increased unrest and many obstacles in the West Bank, and because Israel is withholding large parts of the clearance revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Norway has contributed to a temporary arrangement that enables Palestine to access parts of these revenues.
‘We must prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, which would be a serious setback for the Palestinians and the possibility of a two-state solution. It would also undermine the 30-year effort to build Palestinian institutions. I call on Israel to transfer the clearance revenues it is withholding and on the international community to continue its support to the Palestinians,’ said Eide.