SINGAPORE, July 24 — Singapore has reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian Authority, including through its S$10 million (RM31.6 million) Enhanced Technical Assistance Package that provides training, study visits and scholarships for Palestinians.

“Singapore has consistently provided the Palestinian Authority with capacity-building programmes to help prepare for eventual statehood,” Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said in a post on his official Facebook page.

Balakrishnan, who attended the 5th Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) Ministerial Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, said Singapore was also conducting a community policing course for officers from the Palestinian Civil Police Force together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

On the sidelines of the CEAPAD meeting, he also met Palestinian Authority Minister of Social Development Dr Samah Hamad, and they had an extensive discussion on the political and humanitarian situation in Gaza and prospects for long-term peace. — Bernama