Israel is formulating an economic aid plan for the Palestinian Authority, Channel 10 News revealed on Sunday.
According to the channel, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) and his Palestinian counterpart led delegations that met several times in Jerusalem over the past few weeks in order to put together the economic assistance plan.
The last meeting in the series took place last week, and Kahlon is now putting together a package of economic measures which he will bring in the coming days to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for approval.
If Netanyahu approves the plan, reported Channel 10, he will present it to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, after having promised to do so during their meeting at the White House last November.
The channel further revealed that the main sections in the plan will include allowing Palestinian real estate developers and contractors to begin construction projects in Israel, meaning that Israel will allow the entry of other Palestinians besides construction workers. In addition, the Palestinians will be allowed to study and undergo training periods in high-tech companies in Israel.
Another step that will be part of the same package of benefits is to allow Palestinian Arab doctors to intern in Israeli hospitals.
Neither side has confirmed the report.
The PA has repeatedly asked for foreign donations in recent years, claiming it is on the verge of collapse due to a worsening financial crisis.
But, while blaming Israel for the PA’s financial woes, its chairman Mahmoud Abbas continues to spend six percent of the PA’s annual budget to pay $4.5 million a month to jailed terrorists and another $6.5 million to their families.
Nevertheless, according to Channel 10, Israel believes that the proposed economic measures may “alleviate the pressure” on the Palestinian population and may result in a change of atmosphere that will lead to fewer terrorist attacks.