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Palestinian PM says he is 'bitterly disappointed' in US

In an interview from Ramallah with Al-Monitor, PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah says Palestine is ready for statehood as soon as Israel ends the occupation.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah speaks to journalists during a news conference on the sidelines of the Asian African Conference in Jakarta April 21, 2015. REUTERS/Beawiharta - RTX19LQQ
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Since being appointed Palestinian prime minister in June 2013, Rami Hamdallah has run a tight economic ship, earning him praise from Christoph Duenwald, the local representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Hamdallah proudly showed Al-Monitor a Feb. 11 IMF statement acknowledging the reduction of the Palestinian deficit to nearly 1% of gross domestic product (GDP).

Praise from the IMF aside, Hamdallah said, “As prime minister I am bitterly disappointed when it comes to the US.” During an interview with Al-Monitor in his Ramallah office, Hamdallah explained that although US support in 2010 reached $1.45 billion, in 2015 Washington pledged to provide $290 million but only delivered $130 million. The remaining $160 million was frozen by Congress.

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