Qatar lends Palestine $100mn for development schemes

Qatar has offered the Palestinian Authority an urgent lifeline of $100mn. The Qatar Development Fund (QDF) and the Palestinian Authority yesterday signed an agreement to this effect.Under the agreement, the amount, offered as an interest-free loan, “will be allocated for developmental projects according to the priorities of the Palestinian government”, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) said. The agreement was signed by QDF general manager Khalifa Jassim al-Kuwari and the chief negotiator of the Palestinian Authority, Saeb Erekat. The loan, which will be received by the Palestinian Authority in one payment, was approved to coincide with the visit of President Mahmoud Abbas to Doha. Earlier yesterday, HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received  President Abbas. President Abbas briefed the Emir on the latest developments in the Palestinian cause, expressing thanks and appreciation for Qatar’s efforts and support to it. They also held a session of talks at the Emiri Diwan and discussed a number of regional and international issues of common concern.The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said the Palestinians had expressed their gratitude for the loan from Qatar. The amount will help the Palestinian Authority to bridge a shortfall in cash that has resulted from Israel’s withholding of tax and customs revenues. Israel froze the payments after President Abbas applied successfully for Palestine’s recognition at the International Criminal Court in The Hague as a precursor to asking the court to investigate Israel for war crimes.