According to PECDAR, responsible for much of the West Bank`s economic policies and projects, the new palace will take two years to complete and will be paid for internally by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance, drawing some criticism due to current financial difficulties in the Palestinian territories.
In March, the Palestinian government was forced to adopt an emergency budget when promised international aid fell short and Israel withheld $127 million in tax revenues. Israel released the taxes in April and the Palestinian Authority used much of the money to pay civil servants that had been receiving partial pay checks.
The presidential project in the Ramallah suburb of Surda is due to fill 4,700m2 "along with a building for the Presidential Administration and Guards with an area of 4,000m2," according to PECDAR. The complex will also include two helipads, but is listed as a "public facilities" project.
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