Under the auspices and presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Minister of Local Government, Majdi al-Saleh and the European Union Representative to Palestine, Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff signed today a €5.8 million agreement to build 16 social and public infrastructure projects in Area C, as a new package of the European Union Area C Development Program in the West Bank.

This package is the fifth of its kind to serve public infrastructure projects in Area C and will fund 16 social infrastructure projects in 15 areas across the West Bank, benefiting more than 24,000 Palestinian citizens living in Area C.

The event, held at the Office of the Prime Minister in Ramallah, was attended by the Representative of Denmark to Palestine, Nathalia Feinberg, and the Representative of the Municipal Development and Lending Fund (MDLF) Mahmoud Ramahi.

During the event, Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh said, “The projects funded by the European Union and its member states is hitting the priorities of the Palestinian leadership and the priorities of Palestine. This package of 6 million euros, which will be designated  for Area C, which is very important for the steadfastness of our people, is important and timely. Addressing Area C is a serious reply and response to the Israeli plans of annexation. I think this is an important message from Europe, not only in words, but also in action.”

“Area C is a Palestinian land and Palestine has contagious territory from Gaza to Jerusalem and the West Bank. Your position is in full harmony with what you stand for. Peace and justice, protection of international law, right of self- determination of people and I think that is the solid foundation of what Europe stands for,” The Prime Minister added.

“Thank you for what you provide Palestine whether of budget support, social safety net, infrastructure, protection of human rights, capacity building, local governance, and media,” the Prime Minister stated.

He continued, “Area C is the core foundation of this future Palestinian State with Jerusalem, Gaza, Area C and the Jordan Valley. There is an Israeli systematic destruction of these four foundations of  the future Palestinian state: putting Gaza under siege, trying to annex the Jordan Valley and other areas, putting Jerusalem under wall, and using Area C as a geographic reservoir for the expansion of illegal, illegitimate Jewish settlements. Annexation should not only be condemned, it should have a cost and all European leaders said it will have a cost. Israel should feel the heat of its announcement of annexation.”

In his turn, the EU Representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff  said, “The European Union considers Area C an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories. This position has been voiced for so many years and is translated in projects like the one we are launching today. It is the basic right of every Palestinian in the occupied Palestinian territories to have access to social services and economic infrastructure like water, electricity, roads, schools, and clinics. Together with the EU Member States we are supporting the Palestinian Authority to meet these needs. The European Union’s position on Area C is clear: we will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by both sides, and we do not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied since 1967. We remain committed to a fair and negotiated two-State solution which is the only way to achieve peace, development and security,”

Moreover, the Representative of Denmark, Nathalia  Feinberg, said that In addition, the Representative of Denmark, Nathalia Feinberg, said that “The support from the Danish government is channelled through the European Union Area C Development Program in the West Bank. The EU and EU Member States support to developmental interventions in Area C initiated and promoted by the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government in line with the EU commitment towards achieving the two-state solution.”