VOL. XLVI

No 2

13-January-2003

PALESTINE

Palestinian Budget Forecasts $747Mn Deficit; Minister Pledges Transparency

Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad has presented a draft budget for 2003 to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) which will vote on the proposal in about a month. The draft is the first budget for Mr Fayyad since his appointment as Finance Minister in June, and the first since 2001 as the PLC was unable to convene in 2002 due to the situation in the occupied territories....