Gillard, in the West Bank, announces aid package

Our Deputy (and a few times, Acting) Prime Minster Julia Gillard is on a fact-finding mission to Israel and the Palestinian Territories at the moment, principally sponsored by the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

Turns out today she detailed the new $20m aid package announced earlier this year, saying it would go to health and education services. She added that Australia is “concerned about the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people.” The Australian is also running a more detailed story about her visit, highlighting specifically the appaling conditions of the Bethlehem refugee camp, which is worth a read.

It’s good Ms. Gillard is focusing on the biggest issue the Palestinians face, I believe: infrastrcuture and training. A state is useless without hospitals, schools, roads and universities. So far Australia has donated more than $75m to the Palestinian Authority, and I think that needs to be boosted even more. There isn’t going to be peace — indeed, there can’t be peace — unless there’s a prospering economy in the Territories. Bringing up the living standards of Palestinians up will mean they’ll be less likely to turn to extremist Islamist parties, which is a bad path to walk down.