On 12 December peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians commenced in Jerusalem. Germany and the EU are supporting the process by providing economic, security and social assistance in the Palestinian territories. One goal is to supply better equipment and training for the Palestinian police. Today, the German representative in Ramallah presented the Palestinian Government with radio devices worth 87,000 US dollar.
The conference in Annapolis has revived hopes of peace in the Middle East. Boosting the conflicting parties' confidence in one another is crucial for the further course of the process and also involves strengthening confidence in the Palestinian police force's ability to tighten security in Palestinian cities.
The Federal Government is therefore helping to provide better equipment for the Palestinian security forces. The Federal Foreign Office is supplying the Palestinian Government with radio devices worth 87,000 US dollar, which the police force in Nablus requires to gradually take over responsibility for security in the city, as an Israeli-Palestinian arrangement envisages.
Nablus will serve as an example for future developments in the security sector. In the words of Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier: "We want to help strengthen confidence in the efforts the Palestinian Government is making to increase security in Palestinian cities. Prime Minister Fayyad has taken a courageous step in deciding to assume this responsibility in Nablus. We will do what we can to assist him."