February 27, 2009
Media Outlet:
International Herald Tribune
Date:
February 27, 2009 The European Union's executive office says it will give 436 million euros ($556 million) in aid to the Palestinians in 2009, including support for rebuilding Gaza.
The European Commission said in a statement Friday that the pledge is to be made at a donors' conference for Gaza on Monday. It is not clear how much of that sum will be spent in Gaza.
Donor countries pledged a total of $7.7 billion to the Palestinians in late 2007, to be paid out over three years. The European Commission gave $620 million to the moderate Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas in 2008. Gaza is run by Abbas' rivals from the Islamic militant group Hamas.
Abbas is to request a total of $2.8 billion for Gaza at the donors' conference.
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