During his July visit to the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, Biden announced a multi-year contribution of $100 million to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network.

A State Department spokesperson said that $14.5 million from that pledge has already been delivered and that the administration is working with Congress to get the remaining funds approved.

A Palestinian National Authority (PNA) official expressed skepticism about such projects, noting that most of them require Israeli cooperation.

The package of steps announced by Joe Biden included a donation to East Jerusalem Hospital Network, the roll-out of 4G digital connectivity for the West Bank and Gaza, relaunching the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Economic Committee, and expanding the operation of the Allenby crossing between the West Bank and Jordan to 24 hours a day.

For years, the PNA has been trying to reactivate this forum because, among other difficulties, it has not been able to update the list of goods that can be imported and exported outside customs regulations.

Initially, the planned date was September 30, but it was then delayed by a month and now a pilot program of only several days’ duration has been announced.

However, during his official visit to the region, Biden brushed off one of Palestinians´ major demands: reopening a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, shut down by his predecessor Donald Trump.

Pll/jha/rob