Historical archive

Donors, Israeli and Palestinian representatives gathered for AHLC meeting in Brussels

Historical archive

Published under: Solberg's Government

Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende and High Representative and Vice President Federica Mogherini led a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Palestine (AHLC) which took place in Brussels Thursday 4 May.

The Palestinian delegation was led by Finance Minister Shukri Bishara, and the Israeli delegation was led by the Minister of Regional Cooperation, Tzachi Hanegbi. Jason Greenblatt, the U.S. Special Representative for International Negotiations, also participated in the meeting.

To the left Palestinia's Finance Minister Shukri Bishara and to the right Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.
To the left Palestinia's Finance Minister Shukri Bishara and to the right Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. Credit: Guri Solberg, MFA, Oslo

‘We have just concluded an important meeting in the AHLC. We discussed the status of work aimed at reinforcing Palestinian national institutions and to contribute to economic development in Palestine. These efforts support a two-state solution and the continuing work to resume a political process,’ said Mr Brende.

From left: Foreign Minister Børge Brende, Norway's Ambassador to Israel Jon Hanssen-Bauer, EU's High Representative and Vice President Federica Mogherini and Israel's Minister of Regional Cooperation, Tzachi Hanegbi.
From left: Foreign Minister Børge Brende, Norway's Ambassador to Israel Jon Hanssen-Bauer, EU's High Representative and Vice President Federica Mogherini and Israel's Minister of Regional Cooperation, Tzachi Hanegbi. Credit: Guri Solberg, MFA, Oslo

The Palestinian Authority, Israel and the donor countries reviewed joint efforts to bolster the Palestinian economy through more cooperation between the parties, as well as implementation of significant measures to ensure power and water supplies to the Palestinian people and, not least, intensification of work to rebuild in Gaza.

‘In this meeting, we were able to prevail upon the parties to cooperate on implementing vital water and energy projects. In a broader perspective, it is very encouraging that both parties have now indicated their willingness to resume a political process,’ said Mr Brende.