PA mulls over importing fuel from Iraq

Huda Baroud

A view of the West Qurna-1 oilfield, which is operated by ExxonMobil, is seen during the opening ceremony near Basra, Iraq June 17, 2019. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani - RC13A9DF31A0 — A view of the West Qurna-1 oil field, which is operated by ExxonMobil, is seen during the opening ceremony, Basra, Iraq, June 17, 2019. — REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh visited Iraq July 15 to discuss importing Iraqi fuel. This falls within the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s quest for gradual economic disengagement from Israel.

Shtayyeh was accompanied to Baghdad by a delegation composed of Minister of Finance Shukri Bishara, Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs Riyad al-Malki, Minister of National Economy Khaled Assali, Minister of Agriculture Riyad Attari and Palestinian intelligence service head Majid Faraj. The delegation met with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, President Barham Salih and parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri.

Iraqi media outlets confirmed that Shtayyeh discussed economic issues, such as the import of Iraqi fuel and Palestinian investment projects in Iraq.

During the one-day visit, the two sides discussed the possibility of achieving economic cooperation that enables the PA to overcome its economic crisis partially stemming from its refusal to receive any tax revenue funds deducted by Israel.

PA mulls over importing fuel from Iraq

The Palestinian Authority weighs its options to import fuel from Iraq through Jordan as a step toward economic disengagement from Israel, but will the Paris Protocol allow it to do so?

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