Stephen Harper announces $66M in aid to Palestinians

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced a new $66-million aid program for the Palestinian Authority during his visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah, where he met with leader Mahmoud Abbas.

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Ottawa says the money will help advance the peace process, promote security and deliver humanitarian assistance.

Canada was contributing $300 million over five years, or $60 million a year, in a program that expired in June.

Since the signing of the Oslo peace accords in 1993 and the creation of the Palestinian Authority, Canada has provided more than $650 million in development assistance for the West Bank and Gaza.

Harper is making his first visit as prime minister to the Middle East and is being received as a "best friend" to Israel. Later Monday, he was scheduled to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

He started the day with a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. He and his wife, Laureen, were given a warm welcome to Israel at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

"He is receiving a very warm welcome here, but not so warm …in the West Bank," CBC's Sasa Petricic reported.

"It was very official. It was very proper …. But there is not a lot of warmth on the other side."