Biden Pledges 400 Billion Won Aid to Palestine... Efforts to Restore Ties Severed by Trump

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to announce an additional aid package worth approximately 400 billion won to Palestine during his first visit to the Middle East since taking office, Bloomberg and others reported on the 14th (local time).

Additionally, during this visit, President Biden is set to reiterate his support for the "two-state solution," where Israel and Palestine coexist as separate states. This is interpreted as Biden reaching out again to Palestine, with which relations had nearly broken down due to the overtly pro-Israel stance during former President Donald Trump's administration.

The news agency reported, citing U.S. administration officials, that President Biden will unveil an economic and technical support package for Palestine. Biden, who is visiting the Middle East for the first time since his inauguration, is scheduled to visit the West Bank on the 15th and meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, among others.

According to sources, President Biden will announce an aid package worth $316 million (approximately 419.1 billion won) for Palestine.

Of this, $100 million (approximately 132.6 billion won) will be allocated to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN). The sources added that congressional approval is required for this.

Another $210.1 million (approximately 266.6 billion won) will go to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which had its funding cut under the Trump administration.

The remaining $15 million (approximately 1.99 billion won) is planned to support food security, which has become unstable due to the war in Ukraine.

Furthermore, sources added that President Biden is also expected to announce a plan for technological cooperation between Israel and Palestine to establish a 4G wireless communication network within Palestine by 2023.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.