The High Steering Committee for the EU-funded agricultural assistance program holds its fourth meeting.

Ramallah: February 15, 2026

The Higher Steering Committee for the Agricultural Assistance Program held its semi-annual meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters, chaired by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Eng. Bader Al-Hawamdeh. He opened the session by emphasizing the importance of the program and the necessity of continuing to support farmers affected by the occupation, as this strengthens their resilience and enables them to increase their income. He also pointed to the importance of expanding the scope of assistance provided to include all areas and all farmers affected by the occupation who meet the eligibility criteria.

A presentation was given to the committee outlining the achievements of the previous phase and the proposals for the next phase, including the categories and numbers of affected farmers to be targeted, in proportion to the value of the assistance provided.

Following are the attendees of the meeting:

Ms. Monsieur Bentaloni, Director of the Economic Development, Water, Electricity, Trade, and Area C Department

And Ms. Lucia Castillo, Director of Agriculture and Environment Sector Programs.

Engineer Ammar Al-Khatib, Director of Infrastructure and Agriculture Programs from the European Union, was also present. From the Ministry of Agriculture, attendees included Deputy Assistant for the Economic Sector, Mr. Tariq Abu Laban; Deputy Assistant for Administration and Planning, Mr. Ahmad Zakarna; Deputy Assistant for Agricultural Insurance and Risks, Ms. Adiba Musleh; Dr. Basem Hammad, Advisor for Gaza Affairs; Eng. Iman Jarar, Director of Farmer Services; and Eng. Asmahan, Director of the European Project.

This meeting underscores the importance of collaborative work to maximize benefits for Palestinian farmers and to implement the Ministry of Agriculture's policies in line with its strategic objectives.