US announces Israeli-Palestinian peace-building grants, but holds identities of recipients

By Tal Schneider

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8 March 2022, 9:02 pm

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Tal Schneider is a Political Correspondent at The Times of Israel

USAID deputy administrator Isobel Coleman speaks to reporters at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, on March 8, 2022. (Tal Schneider/The Times of Israel)

The United States Agency for International Development has announced the first round of grants from a new Israeli-Palestinian peace-building fund.

The fund is a result of the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, which was passed by Congress in 2020, allocating $250 million in US financial assistance to Israeli-Palestinian dialogue programs and Palestinian business development projects over a five-year period.

USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman announces the first two grants during a press conference at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, but avoids disclosing the exact identities of the recipients, saying the US wanted to give them time to prepare to go public.

The vagueness appeared to have to do with the growing hesitancy among Palestinians to take part publicly in peace-building efforts with Israelis, which have become increasingly unpopular as Israel’s control over Palestinians in the West Bank becomes more and more permanent.

“We’re not actually disclosing the names right now,” Coleman says. “There are many businesses that are reluctant to engage in this, so we’re allowing the trade associations some space and some time for them to get comfortable with that, which is again part of the process.”

“The first grant provides $3.3 million over four years to provide businesswomen with training, seed funding, and connections with successful entrepreneur mentors,” reads a USAID statement released on International Women’s Day. “Training and mentorship sessions will provide opportunities for Palestinian and Israeli women to expand their business networks and build the personal connections that help foster greater security, prosperity, and freedom.”

“The second grant provides $2.2 million over three years to support Palestinian and Israeli business leaders and small and medium enterprises. The grant will bring together and coach Palestinian and Israeli businesses to build partnerships and advance participants’ business goals,” the statement adds. “The activity will support both Palestinian and Israeli trade associations to leverage their business networks and extended connections across Israel and the West Bank.”