Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Fayyad asks donors to channel Gaza aid through him | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) – Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is asking donor countries to channel hundreds of millions in expected aid for Gaza “first and foremost” through his government.

Fayyad’s request is part of a 53-page report he presented to donors ahead of a pledging conference for Gaza next week. The report was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.

Gaza’s Hamas rulers are not invited to the conference. Instead, the Palestinians will be represented by Fayyad, a U.S.-backed moderate and Hamas rival. The document says that of nearly $2.8 billion (2.2 billion euros) in requested aid, $1.326 (1 billion euros) are for reconstruction and $1.45 billion (1.1 billion euros) for budget support.

Donors have not yet decided who should lead reconstruction.