U.S. to give Palestinians $148 million

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The United States has signed an agreement to provide the Palestinian Authority $148 million, Michael Ratney the U.S. consul general in Jerusalem said.

The agreement was inked Sunday in the West Bank city of Ramallah with Palestinian caretaker Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bashara and David Harden, the director of the United States Agency for International Development, on hand, the Ma'an news agency reported.

At the signing ceremony Ratney said the United States will continue to support the Palestinian people and efforts to develop state institutions, the news agency said.

Hamdallah praised the U.S. government and said the funds would be used to ensure Palestinian institutions continue to provide services to citizens.