Denmark signs grant agreement in support of Palestinian independence

Denmark has provided Palestine with a $72 million grant to support its efforts to reach independence. The funds will be spent on local government, agriculture, civil society and in other fields.

Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of Finance, Shukri Bishara, and Denmark’s Representative to Palestine, Ketil Karlsen, signed the deal today in Ramallah, during which PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh was also in attendance along with the ministers of agriculture and local government.

Shtayyeh praised Denmark for its “very generous” aid.

“We are grateful for the spirit of partnership between Palestine and Denmark,” Shtayyeh said, adding that this is not the first assistance, but “is a process of partnership for peace and justice and development to alleviate poverty and unemployment and help build Palestinian institutions and to widen the capacity of the Palestinian economy that would enable us to disengage gradually from the colonial dependence that was imposed on us due to the fact that we are under occupation.”

“We share with you not only priorities but also the ultimate goal to end the occupation and establish the Palestinian independent, sovereign, viable state to live side-by-side with all its neighbours.”

According to Wafa news agency, Karlsen said that the agreement marks the launch of a new partnership programme that includes not only the $72 million signed today, but also $154 million for the next five years.

Happy to announce that Denmark🇩🇰 will provide USD 154 million to Palestine🇵🇸 between 2021 and 2025 for development and humanitarian assistance, putting opportunities for youth and women at the centre. pic.twitter.com/CBB8zTJWVi

— Ketil Karlsen (@DKRepPAL) September 24, 2021

Danish support focuses on human rights, promoting accountability along with democracy and creating job opportunities with a particular focus on women and the youth, he explained.

He added that his office has been working closely with the ministries of agriculture and local government on development projects, mainly creating clean and climate-friendly jobs while “supporting value change, increasing efficiency and productivity and by substituting dependence on products coming from other countries.”

“This provision is to support fundamental rights and values and this is the spirit and the gesture of doing development differently,” he said.