Japan pledges more than $200 million in aid for Palestinians at East Asian conference

3/1/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Indonesia-CEAPAD

    Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah delivers his speech during the 2nd Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    • JAKARTA, Indonesia — Japan has pledged more than $200 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority, as representatives from 22 nations reiterated their support of the Palestinians’ quest for their own state.

    The pledge was announced Saturday at the second Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

    Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the first disbursement of the aid — about $62 million — was expected later this month.

    Ministers and high-ranking officials from 22 countries and five international organizations participated in the one-day conference, which was jointly chaired by Indonesia, the Palestinian Authority and Japan.

    The conference is aimed at renewing continuous commitment to support the Palestinian Authority so it is able to provide essential services to the Palestinian people.