The amount pledged at the conference in Paris exceeds the amount of 5.6 billion dollars over a span of three years that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had initially asked for. This figure was cited by Bernard Kouchner.
The pledge has been made by sixty-eight states and organizations. The money is to be used to create a viable state in Palestine. However, the militant group known as Hamas has rejected the pledge. They have declared war on the conference because they weren’t invited to it.
Mr. Abbas said that there would be a catastrophe of the Palestinian territories. He also issued a challenge to Israel to freeze all activity regarding settlements. By the desire of the donors, both Fatah and Israel are not to do anything that might help Hamas.
Douglas Alexander, the US Secretary of State for International Development said: "It is crucial that the international community maintain the momentum started at Annapolis, and play its part by offering substantial financial as well as political support.”
Before the talks in Annapolis, Israel revealed plans to expand a settlement on occupied land.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said at the conference that Israel would have to allow the Palestinians more freedom of movement to reconcile its legitimate security needs.
While aid includes Gaza, there is a chance where most of the money will go to the West Bank which is controlled by Mr. Abbas. It is added by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that in Gaza, people live in the worse conditions.
The European Union and the United States vowed the biggest pledges. The United States is pledging $555,000,000 with the European Union pledging $650,000,000.
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