Assistance to the Palestinian people – GA debate – Press release

ASSEMBLY CONTINUES DISCUSSING WAYS TO BETTER COORDINATE

UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN AND DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE

Urges International Assistance to Address Needs In Nicaragua,

Niger, Comoros, Mozambique, Kazakhstan and Liberia

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Assembly Work Programme

When the General Assembly meets this afternoon it will continue discussion of strengthening coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance.

As part of that review, the Assembly will consider: safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel; emergency international assistance for Afghanistan; and assistance to the Palestinian people. The Assembly will also debate aspects of economic assistance to individual countries and regions. (For background information relating to those matters, see Press Release GA/9503, of today.)

The Assembly was also expected to take action on several draft resolutions relating to assistance to specific countries and regions.

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Statements

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AARON JACOB (Israel) said that a significant improvement had recently taken place in the Palestinian economy. The economic growth could be due, among other factors, to the relative calm which had prevailed during that time.  In the first half of 1998, a growth of 33 per cent had occurred in the number of Palestinian employees working in Israel. That was accompanied by a decrease of 20.6 per cent in the Palestinian rate of unemployment. Israel had also taken a number of steps to strengthen the Palestinian private sector and to build a number of industrial zones to create employment along the seam-line between Israel and the areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority. The recently signed Wye River Memorandum contained key provisions to promote the continued strengthening of the Palestinian economy.

He said that Israel continued to invest much effort in improving the state of the Palestinian economy, recognizing it as an important mutual Israeli-Palestinian interest. Still, it was clear that progress was dependent, first and foremost, on a stable security situation, as well as cooperation with the Palestinians and the international community. In that context, it was fitting that all parties acted in a manner which would advance cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians in the economic sphere and not sacrifice important economic interests to political considerations. Economic activity in the Gaza and the West Bank was increasing, and it was hoped that a stable security situation, a joint effort to encourage investments, the creation of jobs and an increase in trade would augment the current upward trend of the Palestinian economy. Economic improvement would form an important foundation for a stable, comprehensive and lasting reconciliation for the entire region.

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