Britain pledges £3m to Palestinians

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said the cash was "only a first step" and urged other nations to follow suit.

It comes a day after US President George Bush pledged a £95 million aid package for Mahmoud Abbas' moderate government and called for a meeting of "donor" countries.

The Palestinian Authority was bankrupted after Israel withheld £30 million a month on customs revenues and restricted movements in the wake of the election of Hamas last year.

Tuesday's cash boost is designed to help it pay debts to firms that supply it, freeing up resources to pay public sector salaries, UK officials said.

It will be channelled through the Ministry of Finance - headed by Mr Abbas - and monitored by an international accounting firm to check it is correctly spent.

Mr Alexander said: "The recent conflict in Gaza has compounded the hardships faced by the millions of ordinary Palestinians in trying to live normal lives.

"People in Gaza need humanitarian supplies, but they also need to be able to go to work and earn money to put food on the table.

"Helping the Palestinian Authority to pay its debts increases Palestinian companies' ability to continue trading, and so to invest and employ more people.

"This will boost the economy, and demonstrates our clear support for the new Government. This is only a first step. I call on other donors to step up and enable the new Government to support the Palestinian people as soon as possible."