The Norwegian government decided Thursday to provide 70 million Norwegian krone (about 11.7 million U.S. dollars) in aid to the Palestinian unity government, said reports from Oslo.

The aid will be used to pay salaries for civilian public servants, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement.

"We hope our contribution will help to alleviate the current social crisis in the Palestinian Territory, particularly for the many extended families with only one breadwinner," Stoere said.

"It is important that not all of the assistance is provided in the form of humanitarian emergency relief, but that we also support the Palestinian state-building process by providing funds for the operation of key Palestinian institutions," he added.

Norway became the first Western country to recognize the new Hamas-led Palestinian unity government when it took office in March.

In April, Stoere said his country is ready to resume direct economic budgetary support to Palestine when the time is right.

The European Union has so far refused to resume direct financial aid to the Palestinian self rule authorities, before they achieve better financial order.

Source: Xinhua