Clinton pledges Palestinian aid

Washington - President Clinton yesterday pledged to seek an additional $400 million in US aid to the Palestinians, who he said…

Washington - President Clinton yesterday pledged to seek an additional $400 million in US aid to the Palestinians, who he said have yet to reap the full economic benefits of peace with Israel.

Mr Clinton told a conference of international donors here that the money, which needs Congressional approval, would be on top of the $100 million in annual aid to support projects on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank now under Palestinian control.

The US in 1993 pledged $500 million over the subsequent five years to help shore up the Oslo peace agreement, under which Israel forces were to withdraw from parts of Gaza and the West Bank they seized in the 1967 Middle East war.