EU pledges more funds to Palestinian gov't following reconciliation

RAMALLAH - 5 October 2017: European Union (EU) officials have pledged to increase funds provided for the Palestinian government after the reconciliation agreement is signed by the Palestinian Fatah and Hamas movements, Palestinian Ambassador to the European Union Abdul Rahim al Farra said on Thursday.

Speaking to the Voice of Palestine radio station, Farra said the EU foreign affairs council will hold a conference to discuss the Palestinian reconciliation issue and means of empowering the Palestinian government to assume its duties in the Gaza Strip.

Farra revealed a promise by Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn to collect 600 million dollars during the Brussels donors conference to launch a water desalination project in the coastal enclave.

Hahn further praised the Palestinian reconciliation agreement that aims at ending division in the Palestinian territories, Farra noted.