At their annual meeting, in Brussels on Thursday 4 May, members of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for assistance to the Palestinian people – the EU, Norway, the USA, Russia, actors in the Middle East and the UN organisations – reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as for the resumption of talks, and urged both parties to avoid actions which could endanger this process.
Co-chaired on Thursday by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Norway's Foreign Affairs Minister Børge Brende, the AHLC deplored "the lack of developments" since its last meeting in New York and raised concerns that the economic conditions for the Palestinians "continue to deteriorate".
In its efforts to strengthen the Palestinian economy and to sustain the viability of a future Palestinian state, the AHLC called for a "more coordinated" approach to reduce the "high" budgetary deficit, asking for higher budgetary support from donors.
The AHLC also encouraged the Palestinian Authority (PA) to adopt a strategic approach to reducing the deficit based on budgetary reforms able to deliver lasting improvements, such as reforming the civil service and putting in place a more progressive tax regime.
To stimulate economic development, the AHLC asked Israel to open Area C for greater Palestinian activity, including access and movement.
The committee also encouraged the two parties to "urgently" complete negotiation of the interim power purchase agreement in order to energise the Jenin power station. In addition, the AHLC encouraged the parties to complete their permanent power purchase agreement in order to enable the PA to take over the responsibility of their own energy sector, and it called on the donors to complete the agreement to secure the supply of water to the West Bank and Gaza.
The AHLC hailed the constructive discussions on financial sector stability, especially the recent decision by the Israeli government to help maintain banking relations, as well as continued progress in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
With regard to reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, the AHLC underlined its "deep concern" at the situation there, in particular with regard to the current energy crisis and the precarious water situation, and it criticised the practice of the authorities in Gaza of excessively taxing the supplies provided by the PA, as well as additional customs on all imported goods into Gaza.
In the light of the precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza, the AHLC called on donors to fulfil their pledges made at the Cairo conference, and called on Israel to facilitate access for other essential 'dual-use' materials beyond cement. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)