JERUSALEM, March 21 (UPI) -- International aid to Palestinians increased last year over 2005 levels despite a widespread embargo due to the election of Hamas to parliament.
The International Monetary Fund and the United Nations say Palestinians received about $300 per capita, or $1.2 billion in aid and budgetary support in 2006 compared with $1 billion in 2005, the International Herald Tribune reported Wednesday.
Since Hamas won a parliamentary majority in January 2006, the United States and European Union, which consider Hamas a terror organization, cut off direct aid but still increased their contributions in 2006, the report said.
While EU figures weren't published, the U.S. aid totaled $468 million last year, up from $400 million in 2005, the Herald Tribune said.
"These numbers are quite stunning given the relatively small size of the population of the Palestinian territory, said Alexander Costy, head of coordination for Alvaro de Soto, the U.N. special Middle East envoy.
