The day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry set forth a $4 billion plan to boost the Palestinian economy in exchange for concessions on Israeli/Palestinian peace talks, Palestinian Authority (PA) economic adviser Mohammad Mustafa said: “The Palestinian leadership will not offer political concessions in exchange for economic benefits.”
According to The Times of Israel, Mustafa made it clear that the Palestinians’ priorities are political rather than economic. They refuse to curtail the “political framework” they are pursuing in exchange for appeasement money from the Obama administration.
The investment plan laid out on May 26 would have been overseen by former British PM Tony Blair; according to Kerry, it could have “cut unemployment by almost two-thirds and [raised] average wages by 40%.” He described the plan as “groundbreaking,” saying it would “transform the fortunes of a future Palestinian state.”
Kerry has been trying to restart the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks during recent weeks but has found himself at an impasse; Palestinians demand Israel cease settlement activity first, while Israelis demand the PA drop its “preconditions” to negotiations.
In rejecting the $4 billion plan, the PA is saying its demands for the end of settlement activity still stand.
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins
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