US gives €15m to help Palestinians in economic crisis

THE Bush administration yesterday said it was giving €15 million in direct aid to the Palestinian Authority to help it through a financial crisis.

A senior Bush official said it hoped the aid would encourage donations from other countries “at a time when the Palestinian Authority is in desperate need of support to pay its bills, maintain stability and allow it to focus on the larger question of governing.”

The Palestinian Authority faces a severe financial crisis due to falling tax revenues during four years of violence, which has paralysed its economy.