Blair urges int'l donors to back PA's $5.6 billion economic plan - Haaretz

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Mon., December 17, 2007 Tevet 8, 5768

Israel Time: 19:55 (EST+7)

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		Quartet's Mideast envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair. (Reuters)

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Last update - 13:28 13/12/2007

Blair urges int'l donors to back PA's $5.6 billion economic plan

By The Associated Press

Tags: Tony Blair, Palestinian

The Quartet's Mideast envoy Tony Blair on Tuesday praised a Palestinian development plan that seeks $5.6 billion in aid over three years, and urged donor countries to provide the required funds.

Some 90 countries and international organizations are to meet in Paris next week to consider the aid request.

Describing the plan as coherent, Blair noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have also come out in support of it.

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Under the proposal, about 70 percent of the aid would be used to try to reduce a towering budget deficit, and 30 percent would be used for development programs. Gradually, the balance would shift in favor of development. The Palestinian government pledges to curtail its bloated public payroll and reduce subsidies of utilities.

"This is the moment, where if we are not to back the Palestinians in this endeavor, when they are presenting that type of plan, in a way that I think they have never done before ... if we are not prepared to back the Palestinians now, then we are not prepared to give them a chance," Blair said.

One element of the plan seeks to boost tourism, and Blair did his part Tuesday, saying biblical Bethlehem is a safe place to visit. He urged countries warning against travel to Bethlehem to reconsider their travel advisories.

"There is no reason for people not to come here and stay overnight, which I am doing tonight," Blair said.

Bethlehem tourism officials have complained that pilgrims usually come to Bethlehem on bus trips from nearby Jerusalem, briefly visit the Church of the Nativity, built over Jesus' traditional birth grotto, and then leave town.

Blair, after visiting a trade exhibition in the town, said the commitment to lifting restrictions on movement and access by Israel will be tested in Bethlehem over Christmas.

"In respect to restrictions on movement and access in this part of Palestine, I think what happens here in Bethlehem will be an important test," he said.

Under the Palestinian development plan, $30 million would be spent on boosting tourism in 2008, said Palestinian Tourism Minister Khouloud Deibes. Of that money, $3 million would be spent on Bethlehem, she told reporters.

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1.	Mr Blair, should`ent tourists be encouraged to visit Gaza, and	23:46	\|	Astounded human	11/12/07

2.	Blair, you´re welcome to dig out the money from your own pocket	00:01	\|	not my taxes	12/12/07

3.	Of course arm the terrorists some more	00:24	\|	Gee	12/12/07

4.	More wishful dreaming by the europeans	01:59	\|	Ben	12/12/07

5.	I am an American and hate that my gov. gives money to Israel	03:01	\|	American Taxpayer	12/12/07

6.	The proper way to spend the moneu	04:37	\|	Chick	12/12/07

7.	The UK SHOULD pay!	04:54	\|	Veritas	12/12/07

8.	Why bother.	05:14	\|	Paulo	12/12/07

9.	Encourage tourist to visit the terrorists areas?	17:08	\|	JB	12/12/07

10.	Remember April 2002 and the Church of the Nativity!!	17:12	\|	JB	12/12/07

11.	Use $$ to bring PA`s back to Egypt economically	20:05	\|	sam	12/12/07

12.	Blair making offering financial aid to the terrorists.	19:52	\|	Baruch Hashem	17/12/07

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