Minister of Finance and Planning: Spain Renewed Its Commitment to Political, Financial, and Developmental Support for Palestine

SadaNews - Spain has pledged to mobilize donor countries to renew the previous initiative that it worked on with Saudi Arabia, France, and Norway, aiming to secure new grants for the "Emergency Coalition Fund for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Government," enabling it to continue providing vital services amidst the ongoing withholding of clearance funds for the ninth consecutive month.

This came during discussions held by the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Istifan Salama, with several senior Spanish officials during his recent visit to Madrid, in response to an invitation he received from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Salama clarified that there are efforts being made by Spain and its partners to renew international grants to the fund, so that it includes other donor countries in the future, emphasizing that Spanish support for Palestine is not linked to any preconditions.

It is worth noting that the member states of the International Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, led by France and Saudi Arabia, contributed $200 million to the fund, with Saudi Arabia contributing $90 million of that. This enabled the Ministry of Finance to secure some of its commitments over the past months for salaries and expenses to ensure the sustainability of vital sectors and essential services, especially amidst the ongoing occupation's complete halt in transferring Palestinian tax revenues.

Dr. Salama welcomed Spain's commitment to increase developmental support for the State of Palestine to €75 million over the next two years, to allocate a new payment for budget support, and to enhance the assistance provided by the Spanish government to UNRWA and humanitarian interventions in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The Minister of Finance and Planning appreciated the Spanish political support for the rights of the Palestinian people, and the role that Spain plays in European Union institutions to garner political, financial, and developmental support for the State of Palestine. He urged active countries in the Union to take concrete actions to counter the Israeli policy aimed at imposing facts on the ground.

The visit included meetings with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno, Secretary of State for Foreign Relations Diego Martínez Palacios, and Minister of Education and Professional Training and Sports Mela Gros Torun. Additionally, the Minister of Finance and Planning met with the Director General of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, Anton Leyes Garcia, and advisor to the Spanish Prime Minister, Pilar Sánchez Pia.