The Palestinian National Authority was created on the basis of the Oslo Accords of 1993. Further negotiations wwere continued between 1993 and 2000 and included, among other things, the Agreement by the terms of which the Autonomy was enlarged. Owing to the victory of Hamas in the parliamentary elections in 2006, Palestine has been going through an internal crisis and suffering international isolation. The situation of the civil population is extremely complicated, for they straggle with numerous daily difficulties related to the on-going Israeli-Palestine conflict.  The situation of the inhabitants of the Palestinian National Authority in 2006 was enormously difficult.  The assistance provided by the Polish aid programme covered the most urgent needs. Above all it was focused on improving education and providing access to potable water, especially in the Gaza Strip.

Polish initiatives include:

• support for good governance and strengthening of national institutions, as well as development of new administration techniques;
• agriculture and food security;
• supply of potable water, especially for the Gaza Strip, and renovation of water wells in Jordan Valley;
• health protection;
• education
• training for diplomatic staff.

Improvement of water supply for Palestinian schools in Bethlehem District

The main problem with which the schools of Bethlehem District struggle is the scarcity of potable water and the lack of a suitable irrigation system of green areas. Owing to the construction of water storage tanks and treatment plants in three schools, thanks to the creation of school gardens and organisation of workshops related to environmental issues, young Palestinian children in Beit Sahuor, Al Ubeidyah and Nahaleen can study in better conditions and use the existing resources more consciously.

The city of Idhna, in the southern part of the West Bank - the location of the implementation of the project - suffers from frequent and habitual water shortages. Thanks to the development of the water supply system, water has been delivered to the densely populated part of the city. The project contributed as well to raising awareness among the population of the need to introduce effective water usage methods.

During a month-long stay in Poland, school teachers from the Gaza Strip could familiarise themselves with basic techniques of using drama as a conflict solving tool at school. Theatrical workshops dealt in principle with violence and ways of counteracting this phenomenon.