The Palestinian Authority cabinet allocated 485,000 US dollars to Bethlehem councils, southern West Bank, for local improvements and renovations ahead of the Second Palestine Investment Conference scheduled for June.

Bethlehem Governor Abdul Fattah Hamayil met on Wednesday with mayors and heads of village councils to inform them of the PA cabinet's decision, providing them with the requested funding for preparations.

Of the sum, Hamayil said, 200,000 US dollars will be channeled toward the municipal council of Bethlehem. Beit Jala and Beit Sahour municipal councils will receive 50,000 US dollars each, while Al-Khadr and Doha will receive 30,000 US dollars respectively.

Additionally, the services committee of the Duheisha refugee camp will receive 20,000 US dollars with a similar sum to be channeled toward the Al-Ubaydiyya municipal council. The remaining local councils and Bethlehem-area refugee camps involved in the Palestine Investment Conference will receive 85,000 US dollars in total.

Hamayil called on municipalities and local councils to determine which projects will receive funding by next Monday to enable officials to disburse the sums accordingly and follow up with projects' progress.

Lawmaker Muhammad Lahham and head of the joint council of east Bethlehem outskirts Khadr Hamdan attended the meeting.