Federal Development Minister says bilateral humanitarian assistance for Palestinian people to continue – German Government press release/Non-UN document

Wieczorek-Zeul: "Bilateral humanitarian assistance for Palestine will continue"

EU Council of Foreign Ministers has called on Israel to transfer to the Palestinians customs and tax revenue that has been withheld.

Following the meeting of EU development ministers in Luxembourg, Federal Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul announced today that bilateral humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people will continue. The EU foreign ministers had decided the day before to stop the EU's direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority, calling on Hamas to recognise Israel's right to exist. At the same time, however, they had emphasised that humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people would continue. The Minister called on Hamas to change its charter and its policy.

The bilateral support from the German government for the Palestinian Territories benefits the people directly. The support is primarily concerned with drinking water supply and sanitation and with local employment. In both areas the programmes can be implemented in conjunction with municipal bodies and non-governmental organisations.

Ms Wieczorek-Zeul emphasised that the Council of EU Foreign Ministers had called on Israel in its declaration to allow the Palestinians to have back the tax and customs revenues that had been withheld and thus also allow them to meet their own responsibilities.