In July 2011, the UK Government announced a four year programme of support to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) designed to promote statebuilding and economic development. This included financial and technical support to Palestinians businesses to stimulate private sector growth and create 8,000 new jobs. With international partners we continue to call on Israel to ease movement and access restrictions, which are the biggest obstacle to economic development in the OPTs. We are also assisting the Palestinian Authority to improve economic management and stabilise its finances. This helps create the macro-economic stability need to promote economic confidence, investment and growth.