"The US is making an unprecedented effort to increase opportunities for Palestinians," she told the independent Aspen Institute.
"For the next fiscal year, we have asked the Congress to approve 400 million in economic support for the Palestinian government and its people," she said, referring to the 2007-2008 budget which began on October 1.
Rice was taking part in a meeting of a partnership between the private and public sector launched this year by the administration of President George W. Bush in a bid to boost the Palestinian economy.
The budget went before Congress for approval on October 22 and has yet to be passed but would represent a huge increase compared to the 50 million dollars spent in 2007 for supporting Palestinian economic development.
The 2007-2008 budget sets out some 350 million dollars for economic support for the Palestinian territories.
But the Bush administration asked for another 25 million dollars to be released to help the Palestinians finance the fight against drugs.
No money was specifically set aside to fight against drugs in the 2006-2007 budget.
The proposed US budget also includes some 35 million dollars for humanitarian aid for refugees, which includes Palestinian as well as Iraqi refugees.
Source: AFP
H/T: Atlas
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