BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the United State will provide an additional $75 million in aid to create Palestinian jobs and help them improve roads, schools and other infrastructure.
U.S. officials say the aid is designed to boost Palestinian public support for faltering peace talks with Israel by showing them tangible benefits from the process.
Kerry announced the aid on Wednesday in Bethlehem, where he is meeting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Kerry met earlier Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
The new aid brings the U.S. contribution to a Palestinian infrastructure program to $100 million.