The US adminstration and Palestinian leaders have signed an agreement for the transfer of $50 million in direct assistance to the Palestinians. The U.S. officials made a formal announcement with Minister of Finance Salam Fayyad at the Palestinian Prime Minister’s office on Wednesday. The agreement between the Palestinian Ministry of Finance and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) underlines U.S. confidence in the Palestinian Authority’s reform program and aims to ensure that the Gaza disengagement is a success. Read more about USAID agrees to transfer $50 million to Palestinian Authority 

The American government launched an ambitious $12 million road reconstruction program Friday to improve commerce and traffic between West Bank communities. The road renovation project is one of the development projects that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is accelerating as a sign of America’s commitment to support the democratically-elected Palestinian leadership. In consultation with the Palestinian Ministry of Planning and the Palestinian Ministry of Public Works and Housing, seven key roads totaling 38.5 kilometers were selected for reconstruction. Read more about USAID begins repairing seven critical West Bank roads