Ceasefire Declared in Gaza

• After twenty two days of conflict, the Government of Israel (GOI) began a unilateral ceasefire on Sunday, January 28, at 0200. Hamas announced a ceasefire at 1400 on Sunday, January 18. Despite sporadic fighting since Sunday, the ceasefire remains in place. The GOI announced Wednesday morning that all Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had left Gaza. USAID continues to provide humanitarian assistance and food aid to the afflicted population in Gaza and to deliver assistance through UNRWA.

Youth and Education Development

• UPP Donations Collected for Gaza Crisis Victims: A public donation campaign to benefit Gazan citizens, based in the USAID-supported YDRCs under the U.S. Palestinian Partnership (UPP) Program, is underway in the West Bank. Humanitarian goods including blankets and milk powder are being solicited by members of the National Youth Corps at 11 YDRC-affiliated youth centers in each Governorate and then stockpiled at the YDRC Flagship site in Ramallah. The Ministry of Youth and Sports led initiative is coordinating closely with the Ministry of Health and UN agencies to ensure timely and proper distribution in Gaza. The donation drive was featured during the past days in newspaper and radio media reports in the West Bank, the Middle East and Europe.

eCONOMIC development

• Bisan Crossing Gears up for Facilitating Passage at Harvesting Season:  USAID’s Trade Facilitation Project conducted a site visit to the Bisan Crossing north of the West Bank to assess the impact on Jordan Valley farmers of transporting goods through Bisan Crossing.  The Israeli crossing point manager indicated willingness to extend working hours and increase traffic across Bisan to accommodate more shipments, especially as the harvesting season reaches peak production.  He mentioned that very few traders were aware of this and asked USAID to spread the word.

Democracy and Governance

• Support for Civic Education: USAID’s Rule of Law Project, known in Arabic as Netham, partnered with the Palestinian Ministry of Education to raise student's awareness of rule of law and the judiciary in civic education classes. Netham conducted the first of several focus groups to gather information for developing a teacher’s manual and training. The Civic Education Initiative aims at promoting a generation of youth who will learn to respect and abide by the law and to teach students how key branches of the government function.
  
  
• Jenin Courthouse Upgraded: Netham completed upgrading several key departments in the new Jenin Courthouse. The work came in the frame of efforts to support the Supreme Judicial Council and strengthen the public's confidence in the judicial system. Netham worked closely with UNDP who built the new Jenin Courthouse. Netham upgraded the Notary Public, Civil Judgment Departments, and the First Instance and Conciliation Courts in Jenin.