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| By: israelinsider staff |
| Published: March 18, 2007 |
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The Japanese government has agreed to give $4.2 million worth of food aid to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip and the West bank.
The Japanese signed the agreement with the UN in an attempt to help the Palestinians, whose economy has been deeply crippled by international economic sanctions put in place due to Hamas' failure to recognize Israel and renounce violence.
According to the World Bank, 70% of the 1.4 million Palestinians residents of the Gaza Strip are living in poverty (living on less than $2.30 per day).
Japanese envoy Shigenobu Kato said Japan was committed to improving living conditions for the Palestinians and also to creating a lasting peace in the area.
Since 1953, Japan has given more than $529 million in aid to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
The United States said Sunday that its ban of the Palestinian government would remain in place despite the newly formed unity government.
Spokeswoman for the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm confirmed that the economic ban would remain in place.
"This must continue to be the measure for any support," she said. "There's no change in our assistance policy. But we remain committed to providing assistance to the Palestinian people and we'll continue to do that through the UN and other organizations."
The U.S. consulate in Jerusalem also reported that Washington would consider allowing contacts with the non-Hamas members of the new government, depending on circumstances.
According to Haaretz, "The decision to allow some contacts marked a shift in U.S. policy and a break with Israel, which has vowed to boycott the new government in its entirety, including non-Hamas ministers."
Norway, unlike the U.S., will be ending its economic boycott on the Palestinian Government. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg stated Sunday that the boycott would end, calling the Palestinian unity government a "courageous decision." |
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