The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), the international body in charge of coordinating the delivery of international aid to Palestine, has called on Israel to cease its unilateral actions against the Palestinian Authority and to halt its settlement activities and withholding of Palestinian tax funds. In a concluding statement at the end of the AHLC meetings in New York, chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeld, AHLC expressed its ‘serious alarm for the fragile and deteriorating situation on the ground,’ adding that ‘the Palestinian economy is under tremendous pressure.’ ‘Persistent low growth and significant fiscal constraints on the Palestinian Authority (PA) reinforce each other, reducing the PA’s ability to provide essential public services to the population. Israeli deductions in clearance revenues add substantially to the PA’s fiscal challenges,’ the statement warned. AHLC pointed out that Israeli restrictions on access and movement and economic activity in the West Bank, particularly in Area C, and the siege of Gaza remain the most important obstacles to economic growth, private-sector development, and job creation in Palestine. The statement, released today, emphasized that the prospects for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain elusive. It stressed that building a Palestinian state can only occur through a political resolution to the conflict and the end of the occupation. The statement acknowledged the significant achievements made by Palestinians in building public institutions over the past 30 years. These accomplishments were made possible through substantial political and financial support from donors, all in line with the shared goal of achieving an independent Palestinian state within the framework of a two-state solution. The statement called on Israel to remove restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza and Area C, cease settlement construction in the West Bank, and stop arbitrary measures against the Palestinian Authority. It also urged Israel to enhance transparency regarding deductions from Palestinian clearance revenues, transfer the Value Added Tax imposed on trade between Israel and Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, and exempt fuel imports from taxes. The statement also called on Israel to approve water and sewage projects, improve infrastructure, and provide necessary materials for the central desalination plant in Gaza. The statement urged the international community to increase financial assistance and other forms of aid to the Palestinian people, including support for the budget to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and its reform efforts, as well as for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) and urgent on-the-ground needs. The statement emphasized that all stakeholders must renew their efforts to build a Palestinian state and pave the way for the resolution of the conflict.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA