In a significant move, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz affirmed on Thursday that his country remains committed to the goal of having “our Israeli and Palestinian friends who want peace live side by side.”
However, as reported by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Scholz added that they have decided “not to send any further developmental assistance to the Palestinians pending a review.”
This announcement follows Spain’s decision to increase the aid it provides to the Palestinians by another 100 million euros. Spain, over the past three decades, has contributed a total of 900 million euros through various cooperation programs.
According to the Spanish newspaper Libertad Mercado, Spanish support for Palestine began in 1994 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding related to Spanish-Palestinian cooperation, accompanied by continuous financial support from government agencies.
The decision by Germany to temporarily halt developmental assistance to the Palestinians reflects shifting dynamics in international aid and diplomacy related to the Middle East. It underscores the complex nature of foreign aid and its ties to geopolitical factors and regional conflicts. The pause in aid will likely have far-reaching implications for both Palestinian development initiatives and international relations in the region.
