By AFP

More of this topic

Posted inPhotos

In pictures: $17.5m Palestinian presidential palace to be turned into a national library

The presidential palace near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank after Palestinian officials announced a project to transform the building into a national library.

By AFP
A picture taken on August 28, 2017 shows people standing outside the presidential palace near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank after Palestinian officials announced a project to transform the building into a national library. President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction

A picture taken on August 28, 2017 shows a Palestinian woman walking into the presidential palace near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank after officials announced a project to transform the building into a national library. The writing in arabic reads: The Palestinian National Library. President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction of the $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.

A picture taken on August 28, 2017 shows people walking outside the presidential palace near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank after Palestinian officials announced a project to transform the building into a national library. President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction of the $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.

A picture taken on August 28, 2017 shows people gathered at the presidential palace near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank after Palestinian officials announced a project to transform the building into a national library. President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction of the $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.

A picture taken on August 28, 2017 shows a general view of the presidential palace near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank after Palestinian officials announced a project to transform the building into a national library. President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction of the $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.

A picture taken on August 28, 2017 shows a general view of the presidential palace near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank after Palestinian officials announced a project to transform the building into a national library. President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction of the $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.

A picture taken on August 28, 2017 shows a general view of the presidential palace near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank after Palestinian officials announced a project to transform the building into a national library. President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction of the $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.

Palestinian officials are embarking on a project to transform a presidential palace into a national library near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, the culture minister said Sunday.

President Mahmud Abbas and his cash-strapped administration had faced questions over the construction of the $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 complex sits on some 27,000 square metres of land.

“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. 

(AFP)

Follow us on