S'pore doubles technical assistance package to Palestinian National Authority
RAMALLAH — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (April 20) pledged to double an existing technical assistance package by Singapore to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), as he met his counterpart Rami Hamdallah in Ramallah.

PM Lee Hsien Loong laid a wreath at the Arafat Mausoleum on April 20, 2016. Beside him is Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah. Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information
RAMALLAH — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (April 20) pledged to double an existing technical assistance package by Singapore to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), as he met his counterpart Rami Hamdallah in Ramallah.
“Prime Minister Lee underscored Singapore’s commitment to support Palestinian capacity building under the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package which will be doubled from S$5 million to S$10 million,” according to Ms Chang Li Lin, Mr Lee’s press secretary, adding that Singapore will share its expertise in the areas of vocational and skills training.
“PM Hamdallah welcomed this as the Palestinians valued their friendship with Singapore. He expressed appreciation for Singapore’s assistance as education was a key focus for the Palestinians”, she said.
Mr Lee, who is on a week-long trip to the Middle East, arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday morning for his first official visit to the Palestinian Territories and was later hosted to lunch by Mr Hamdallah.
“Your country is a pioneer in the field of vocational training; we could learn a great deal from you,” said Mr Hamdallah, according to the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA).
“In Gaza, there is a water shortage,” WAFA cited Mr Hamdallah as saying. “We consider Singapore a model in the field of desalination and we hope to benefit from your experience in water management.”
While in Ramallah, Mr Lee also laid a wreath at the mausoleum of the first President of PNA Yasser Arafat.
During Wednesday’s meeting between the two premiers, Mr Hamdallah conveyed President Mahmoud Abbas’ warm greetings to Mr Lee as he was overseas, said Ms Chang.
Mr Lee invited his counterpart to make a reciprocal visit to Singapore, which Mr Hamdallah accepted. Mr Lee also reiterated a standing invitation for Mr Abbas to visit Singapore.
Singapore has all along been sharing developmental expertise with officials from PNA.
Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman told Parliament during the recent Committee of Supply debate that over the past 20 years, the Republic has trained over 230 Palestinian officials in various courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.
In 2013, Singapore announced an enhanced technical assistance package to the PNA worth S$5 million over five years which cover study visits to Singapore, priority places in training courses on education, anti-corruption and economic development, and postgraduate scholarships.
As for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Singapore in 2014 donated US$100,000 (S$134,000) to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Cluster, which has been active in trying to provide clean water and sanitation.
This is in addition to an earlier US$100,000 donation by the Government to the Singapore Red Cross to provide for immediate relief supplies such as emergency food packages and health care items in Gaza among others.
According to Ms Chang, Mr Hamdallah also briefed the Singapore delegation about the situation in the Palestinian Territories and reaffirmed the PNA’s commitment to the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
“PM Lee encouraged the PNA to resume negotiations to find a just and durable peace with Israel and Palestine living side by side,” said Ms Chang.
Mr Lee is making his first official visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories this week. He was in Jordan over the weekend before proceeding to Israel and the Palestinian Territories.