Abbas spokesman says Israel has rejected requests to develop the Palestinian economy

A spokesman for the Palestinian president has said that the Israeli government has rejected all requests to develop the Palestinian economy. Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a media statement last night that the Israelis have refused to implement their obligations, particularly those related to the transfer of security and civil responsibilities in Area C of the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority, revising the Paris [economic] protocols and the building of an airport.

He pointed out that the economic measures announced by the Israeli government to develop the Palestinian economy “do not meet even the minimum requirements to develop the Palestinian economy.”

Abu Rudeineh made his comments after the Israeli government announced a package of economic measures that it would provide to the Palestinians. They include an increase in the electricity and water supply to the industrial area in Jericho, the building of industrial zones in Tarqoumiya and Hebron, and an increase in the opening hours of the King Hussein Bridge border crossing with Jordan.

He called on Washington to put pressure on the Israeli government to implement its obligations under the signed agreements.