The German government pledged €125 million for the next two years to support a group of vital projects in Palestine in the sectors of water and sanitation, local government, employment, vocational and technical education and training, support for small and medium enterprises, and other vital projects in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

This came during the signing of the cooperation protocol between the Palestinian delegation and its German counterpart, following the conclusion of the annual consultations between the two parties, which aim to review and discuss development programs and projects for the years 2023-2024, today, Tuesday, in the German capital, Berlin.

It is noteworthy that Germany is the third largest donor to the Palestinian people after the United States and the European Union, as it provides, in addition to development support, more than 180 million euros annually to UNRWA, in addition to support for civil society institutions, the private sector, and emergency needs.

The Palestinian delegation was headed by the Prime Minister's Advisor for Planning and Aid Coordination, Estefan Salameh, and on the German side, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Niels Annen, and the Director of the Middle East Department at the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Mario Torcules.

Salameh opened the consultations by conveying the greetings of Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, and affirming his keenness to enhance joint cooperation with the German government at all levels.

On behalf of the Palestinian side, in person or through the Zoom mechanism, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Germany, Laith Arafa, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Tawfiq Al-Budairi, the Head of the National Commission for Vocational and Technical Education and Training, Ziyad Goelis, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, Nafeh Assaf, and the Director of the Western Europe Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated. And expatriates Ihab Khalil, Director General of Projects and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Finance Laila Sobeih, Director General of International Relations at the Ministry of Economy Suha Awadallah, Director General of the Project Management Unit at the Water Authority Ziad Daraghmeh, Head of the Palestinian Employment Fund Rami Mahdawi, and Second Secretary Rami Erekat from the embassy The State of Palestine to Germany, and the coordinator of the German file in the Prime Minister's office, Nida Elias.

On the German side, a large number of cadres of the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, officials from the German Development Bank KFW, the German Technical Cooperation GIZ and a representative of the German Foreign Ministry participated.