President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction of the USD 17.5 million palace, which was initially intended as a presidential headquarters and location where foreign dignitaries could be received. Abbas has now decided to transform the 4,700-square-metre complex into a Palestinian national library, culture minister Ehab Bessaiso told AFP. “The president believes the palace should be used for public benefit by turning it into a huge national library supervised by a board of trustees,” said Mohammed Shtayyeh, head of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR). Construction on the palace in the village of Surda began some five years ago and is largely complete, but it was not clear how long it would take to create the library. Its construction was paid for by the Palestinian finance ministry and PECDAR, an institution that handles donor funds.

Source: Indian Express August 27, 2017 15:00 UTC