Exploring potential financial assistance for Palestinians residing in the West Bank by the German government
The Palestinian Authority is currently facing an acute financial crisis, with the tax revenues due to them being completely blocked since May. In an attempt to alleviate this situation, Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan has proposed a German emergency aid package of €30 million.
If approved, the German aid may be used to pay salaries in the health and education sectors in the West Bank. The final decision on the aid package has not yet been made, but it is expected to be discussed within the European Union in light of the current situation.
The Oslo peace process in the 1990s agreed that Israel would collect taxes and customs in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip and transfer them to the Palestinian Authority. However, these revenues have been withheld, causing significant financial strain for the Palestinian Authority.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) had called on the Israeli government to continue transferring the tax revenues. Similarly, Reem Alabali Radovan had urged Israel to pay the withheld tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority during a Middle East trip at the end of August.
Alexander Hoffmann, chairman of the CSU parliamentary group, has stated that humanitarian aid is important but that it must be clear where the money will go before its release. He emphasised that projects that threaten Israel's security must be clearly excluded.
The Federal Assembly will decide on the proposed aid on September 26, 2025. If approved, the money will be paid out via a EU mechanism, which links its support for the Palestinian Authority through the PEGASUS mechanism to reforms and provides rules for controlling the use of funds.
Sebastian Hille, the deputy government spokesman, stated that they are waiting to see what happens in the Bundestag. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is in close coordination with the Federal Chancellery, the Federal Foreign Office, and the Federal Ministry of Finance regarding the aid.
The European Union has been a key player in supporting the Palestinian Authority. The proposed German aid is just one part of a larger effort to provide much-needed financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority during this critical time.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
