The countries that are the primary donors to the Palestinian Authority are expected to meet later this week in Oslo, Norway, for the biannual session of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee.
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Founded in 1993, the 15-member AHLC, a UN body, serves as the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for development assistance to the Palestinian people. Its primary mission is "to promote dialogue between donors, the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel."
AHLC members are categorized in seven groups: the Arab nations, the European Union, the United States, Japan, international institutions, European countries, and other nations. Current members include the US, EU, United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Russia, Norway, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the PA, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia.
This will be the first time in years that delegates will attend the meeting in person rather than by video conference, financial daily Globes reported on Sunday.
Israel will be represented by Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej.
Globes sources said that Frej plans to meet with PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Finance Minister Shuki Bishara on the conference's sidelines.
Frej is expected to present donor countries with the Israeli government's position on donor funds for the Palestinians, focusing on increased support and donations to the PA, which is experiencing a major economic crisis.
According to the latest World Bank figures, donations for the Palestinians have plummeted in recent years. The PA will have a deficit of $1.36 billion in 2021 from a budget of $6 billion.
In 2008, the PA received $1.2 billion in foreign subsidies, but in 2020 that figure fell to $500 million. This year, donations are expected to amount to $184 million.
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