Excellencies, ministers, colleagues and friends, 

Welcome to this meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC). Thank you to the UN for hosting us today. And to our co-sponsor the EU, and the AHLC rapporteurs (World Bank, IMF, UN and the Office of the Quartet) for their participation. 

A warm welcome to the Minister of Finance and Planning, H.E Dr. Estephan Salameh. The Palestinian government should have been with us in person in the room, but we appreciate to have you with us virtually.

Like in Brussels in April we are also joined by some special guests from the BOP Gaza for this meeting. Welcome. Your presence will enable us to have one common conversation on the issues at hand. A one Palestine approach.

As a party to the conflict and an important member of the AHLC, Israel has as always been invited. The door remains open for their participation.

Colleagues, we are convening this meeting at an unprecedented time. 

The challenges facing Palestinian institution-building are profound. If the foundations for the two-State solution disappear, the likely alternative is the indefinite continuation of occupation and conflict within an increasingly fragmented territory, accompanied by recurring violence, displacement, discrimination and radicalization, with further insecurity for Palestinians and Israelis alike. Such a trajectory would have consequences far beyond Palestine and Israel. We need decisive action. The New York declaration from last year remains a reference and should continue to give direction.  

The challenges facing Gaza are equally profound. The population is still paying the price of the war and the lack of reconstruction. The 20-Point Plan for peace – endorsed by Security Council resolution 2803 – must be implemented.

I would like to highlight three points:

First, we must find ways to step up our financial support to the PA. Budget support is essential for the survival and strengthening of the Palestinian institutions and public sector structures in the whole of Palestine. The Palestinian banking sector is vital for the reconstruction of Gaza.  Mobilizing the substantial resources required for Gaza’s reconstruction will be considerably more difficult if donors must also continue to provide emergency financing simply to keep the PA afloat.  

However, donors can never replace Palestine’s own revenues. Neither should they. There is huge potential in the Palestinian economy which can be released with easing of restrictions. Palestinian clearance revenues must be transferred. A long-term solution must be found to correspondent banking relations. The issue of excess shekels must be handled. And the continued expansion of settlements and settler violence must stop.

Second, we strongly welcome the upcoming Palestinian elections. The PA has declared 2026 a year of democracy. We should support them in this much needed effort. We already see renewed political engagement in the Palestinian society. 

On the reform agenda, we welcome significant progress despite exceptionally challenging circumstances. Progress has been made on fiscal and public spending reforms, in public governance and transparency. We also note progress on the implementation of the reform of the social protection and education.  

We encourage the PA to maintain this momentum, including to prepare for its resumption of governance in Gaza.

Third, the 20-point plan and Security Council resolution 2803 has contributed to ending the war in Gaza and provided glimpses of hope for the future. The plan and resolution 2803 – with its mandate given to the Board of Peace and the transitional structures – must be implemented. I commend High Representative Mladenov and his team for their efforts to implement the plan.

Without sustained international engagement there is a real risk that we could be left with an even deeper humanitarian, political and security crisis. Humanitarian assistance, the UN Horizon Fund and the World Bank’s PFRD fund are three pillars of the international response to Gaza, which should be supported immediately.

Together, they provide a continuum from life-saving humanitarian support, through early recovery and stabilisation, to long-term reconstruction and strengthened Palestinian institutions on the ground. 

There is an urgent need for substantial fresh funding. Norway stands ready to increase our contribution. We strongly encourage both the Palestinian government and NCAG to work together. Palestinian ownership is key. There is momentum in important sectors such as water and sanitation.  

Colleagues, after Minister Salameh has delivered his opening remarks, I will give the floor to the EU as co-sponsor of the AHLC. I will then give the floor to the World Bank, the UN as host for today’s meeting, our guests the Board of Peace in Gaza, followed by Ministers, countries and organizations who request to speak to the different issues presented. 

Friends, the situation in Palestine is more critical than ever. I know we all care about the situation and share the goal of change. We might have differences in how we want to see this work done. Today, we gathered all the key actors in this room. Let’s use this occasion to be practical, pragmatic and seek common ground rather than focusing on what divides us. The Palestinians deserve nothing less. Let’s be concise, to the point, and focused on practical outcomes.  

Thank you.