Palestinian Government: Apart from Algeria and Saudi Arabia … all Arab states have clamped down a financial stranglehold on Palestine for a year now

Palestinian Prime Minister, Ramy Hamdallah has revealed that the only two Arab countries really committed to financially helping the Palestinian Authority are Algeria which pays $ 52 million a year, a sum donated in March 2015, and Saudi Arabia, which grants every three months the amount of $ 60 million that is $20 million per month.

Mr Ramy Hamdallah  said in a statement to the local economic newspaper “El Hadeth” or the “Event” that an undisclosed financial blockade, which he described as “harsh”, had been woefully imposed on the Palestinian Authority for over a year now, stressing that this untoward financial stranglehold meted out to the Palestinian authority by some unhelpful Arab states is still under cover mainly for murky political reasons.

He further asserted   that the European Union is the only bloc committed politically and financially regarding the Palestinian Authority , and the position of France is ahead of most states,” while the US Administration froze the promised aid to the Palestinian Authority estimated $290 million dollars for this year.

The Palestinian Premier added that that Qatar donated last time, a sum of $ 150 million dollars in 2013 , and Kuwait had paid $ 15 million during the last two years, pointing out that as a result of the dwindling donations,  the Palestinian Government has been compelled to enforce stringent austerity measures to cope with this adverse situation.

He hoped an end to this bleak financial downturn over a short period, adding that the money received by Palestinian institutions is the legitimate right of the oppressed Palestinian people who are being “choked” by the brutal Israeli forces’ occupation.

The total Palestinian budget for 2014 was estimated at $4.21 billion with a $1.25 billion deficit, when the $350 million deficit in development budget is added, the total budgetary deficit reaches $1.6 billion.

The Palestinian government received approximately $243 million in financial aid over the first four months of 2014 compared to $1.49 billion over the same period in 2013.

The Palestinian Authority has repeatedly called on the supporting nations for donations in recent years.