Information to the press
Meeting of donor group for Palestine (AHLC) on 23 February
Historical archive
Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press release | Date: 22/02/2021
‘The parties reestablished relations in November last year. It is a positive sign that we can hold this AHLC meeting at a time when the Israeli and Palestinian authorities have resumed cooperation in crucial areas such as security, finance and health,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide. The press conference after the meeting will be streamed.
The Minister will chair the video meeting of the donor countries in the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for Palestine on 23 February. The High Representative/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell Fontelles will co-chair. Participants at the meeting will include representatives of Palestine, Israel, the US, and various European, Arab and other donor countries.
The aim of the AHLC is to develop the institutional and economic foundation for a negotiated two-state solution. The pandemic and the high number of Covid-19 cases in Palestine have hit the Palestinian economy hard. The Palestinian Authority had a significant drop in revenues last year. Poverty and unemployment are on the rise.
‘The pandemic has further exacerbated the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza. At the meeting, we will continue to call for close cooperation between the parties to combat the pandemic, which is necessary if they are to succeed. It is also important to advance economic cooperation. This is essential to strengthen the financial situation of the Palestinian Authority,’ said Ms Eriksen Søreide.
AHLC Press Conference
See broadcast
Accreditation for the press conference
After the meeting, at approximately 17:45 CET, there will a virtual press conference where the Minister of Foreign Affairs will sum up the meeting and answer questions.
Members of the press who wish to participate are requested to register here: trude.maseide@mfa.no no later than 1100 CET on Tuesday 23 February.
Press contact: Head of Communications Trude Måseide (mobile phone: +47 95 72 65 10 and trude.maseide@mfa.no)