UK SHARES U.S. OBJECTIVES FOR PALESTINIAN AHLC

UNCLAS LONDON 001338 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID KPAL PGOV PREL WBG EU IS UK SUBJECT: UK SHARES U.S. OBJECTIVES FOR PALESTINIAN AHLC REF: STATE 55527 ¶1. (SBU) The UK "very much" supports the U.S. objectives for the June 8 Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) of Palestinian donors, according to Alice Mann, Deputy Head of the Palestinian Program at the UK Department for International Development (DFID). Responding to reftel points, she said the three main issues for the UK are: lobbying others, particularly Gulf States, to step up funding for the Palestinian Authority; pressing Israel for more details on how they plan to reduce movement and access constraints in the West Bank; and calling for full humanitarian access to Gaza. ¶2. (SBU) Mann said the UK plans to announce GBP 10 million (approx. $16 million) in direct budget support for the Palestinian Authority and asked that we keep this close hold. The funds will be delivered immediately to the World Bank Trust Fund to help bridge immediate needs until other donor funds become available. Melinda Simmons, DFID Deputy Director for Middle East (approximately equivalent to a DAS), will lead the UK delegation. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom LeBaron