U.S. Finances $10 Million Water Project in Jericho

YERUSHALAYIM
A view of the historic city of Jericho. (Sebi Berens/Flash90)

U.S. negotiators in the Mideast have talked about financial development as a key to peace, and on Sunday they showed what that meant, launching a a $10 million project to upgrade the water supply for Palestinian farmers in the area of Jericho, the AFP reported.

President Donald Trump’s envoy Jason Greenblatt attended the official launch in the historic city.

But Greenblatt would not comment to reporters about the status of the peacemaking efforts, nor would he be drawn on the new Fatah-Hamas unity agreement. Israel has been severely critical of it for its failure to disarm Hamas or recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

The project announced on Sunday aims to increase the number of homes connected to the Jericho area’s wastewater treatment plant previously built with Japanese assistance for about 10,000 residents. That would leave some 70 percent of Jericho residents connected, according to the U.S. consulate in Yerushalayim.

Recycled wastewater would then be available to Palestinian date farmers in the area, it says.

“The U.S. administration and President Trump personally remain committed to a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis, and a central element of that peace is a thriving economy and real opportunities for Palestinians throughout the West Bank and Gaza,” U.S. Consul General Donald Blome said.

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