EU considers funding increase for Palestinian Authority

Tánaiste Simon Harris said it is 'absolutely essential' to provide the Palestinian Authority with further funding, saying it is the only 'legitimate form of government in Palestine'. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The EU has proposed increasing its financial support to the Palestinian Authority by €1.6bn over the next three years.

EU foreign ministers examined the funding package at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday, with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas confirming the funding.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said it is “absolutely essential” to provide the Palestinian Authority with further funding, saying it is the only “legitimate form of government in Palestine”.

“We need to strengthen it and we need to prepare it for the work that needs to take place in terms of reconstruction and, ultimately, trying to bring about a two-State solution,” Mr Harris said.

Mr Harris said €82m is due to go to UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for aid to Palestine.

He said the funding is “badly needed” at present, given the blockages for humanitarian aid getting into Gaza.

It’s now over a month since food supplies have been able to access Gaza, and this is making a horrific humanitarian catastrophe even more difficult.

“The suffering and the misery, the pain and the death for civilians all the more worse.”

Ms Kallas said the situation in Gaza remains grave, while calling for negotiations to resume on a further ceasefire.

“The humanitarian aid we are giving to Gaza and Palestinians, it should not be politicised. What it means is that it has to reach the people who are in need,” Ms Kallas said.

“Israel has the right to defend itself, but its current actions go beyond proportionate self-defence.”

Meanwhile, Mr Harris also addressed ongoing discussions between the EU and US to prevent a trade war breaking out.

“We’d be foolish not to prepare for an environment in which tariffs persist and certainly the Irish Government is, of course, preparing for that and all of the various eventualities and outcomes,” Mr Harris said.

But whilst preparing for the worst, we need to continue and try help to bring about the best.

Mr Harris said he got the impression when he was in Washington last week that the US is “very interested” in reaching a deal with the EU.

He added 20% EU tariffs had caused turmoil and chaos over the last week.

Despite this, Mr Harris said both the EU and Ireland are “open for business” and willing to buy more US goods.

“But we also stand ready to act if our economy and our jobs and our investment are threatened too.”