FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY:

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 003201 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2013 TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN KPAL KWBG NL EUN SUBJECT: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: DUTCH RESPONSE REF: STATE 349283 Classified By: Classification Derived from Reftel (C) A senior Dutch official covering Middle East affairs responded to reftel demarche by acknowledging that the GONL is aware of and concerned about the Palestinian Authority's dire financial straits. The Netherlands, however, will be unable to provide any urgent financial assistance. The official indicated that -- faced with pressure from the Dutch parliament to reduce contributions to Palestinian Authority funding -- the GONL would only consider Palestinian funding issues in an EU context and would not take a leadership role in pushing for additional funds. RUSSEL