Israeli minister, Palestinian PM discuss economic ties

Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah discussed new financial opportunities.  

Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah met on Sunday in Ramallah to discuss developing economic ties between the two sides.

President Donald Trump’s special Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted Monday that the meeting saw “important progress” and “meaningful steps forward on key economic issues – revenues, customs, and investment – that help support the search for peace.”

IDF Major General Yoav Mordechai, head of Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) which oversees Israel’s civilian projects in the area, was present at the meeting, as well as head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service Maj. Gen. Majid Faraj, Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara and Palestinian security officials.

The meeting was one of several between Kahlon and Palestinain officials in recent months.

The Palestinian WAFA news agency reported that ”important issues” were discussed, including “financial arrangements related to general trade and regulating the banking relationship between the Palestinian and Israeli banks to ensure a smooth operation of the Palestinian banking sector and its security.”

Water and electricity issues were also discussed, including a new trade agreement regulating these two sectors in terms of increasing capacity and quantities, WAFA reported.

Israel believes that more economic opportunities for the Palestinians could help curb the recent wave of Palestinian violence.

By: World Israel News Staff