Palestinians Welcome G8 Commitment to $3 Billion Aid Package
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GAZA, July 9, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) -[Official PA website] - Chief
Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat welcomed the recent pledge of $3
billion by G8 countries to the Palestinian National Authority during the
recent summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.

Erekat hoped that such financial aid would coincide with a meaningful
support of the peace process that would lead to ending the Israeli
occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967.

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is the current president of the
G8, told reporters after the summit, "Yesterday evening the G8 agreed a
substantial package of help for the Palestinian Authority amounting to up to
$3 billion in the years to come, so that two states - Israel and Palestine -
two peoples and two religions can live side by side in peace."

"We offer today this contrast with the politics of terror," Blair added,
referring to the deadly bombings that struck the British capital city London
last Thursday.

In the summit's chair summary, the G8 (composed of Germany, Canada, the
United States, France, Italy, Japan, the UK and Russia) reiterated its
support for the Quartet Committee's special envoy for the Israeli
disengagement, and committed to raising global financial support of up to $3
billion.

"We met James Wolfensohn, the Quartet's Special Envoy for Disengagement, who
briefed on his work to help ensure a successful Israeli disengagement from
Gaza and parts of the West Bank, and his proposals for long-term follow-up
to that process, laying the foundations for the viability of a future
Palestinian state. We welcomed and strongly endorsed his efforts, and will
explore how best to support his proposals for the future," the chair's
summary noted.

G8 also urged Israel to let Palestinians move more freely around occupied
Palestinian territories, as well we easing the restrictions that limit the
growth of the Palestinian economy.