RAMALLAH (West Bank) - THE European Union's executive office says it will give 436 million euros (S$860 million) in aid to the Palestinians in 2009, including support for rebuilding Gaza.

The European Commission said in a statement Friday that the pledge is to be made at a donors' conference for Gaza on Monday. It is not clear how much of that sum will be spent in Gaza.

Donor countries pledged a total of US$7.7 billion to the Palestinians in late 2007, to be paid out over three years. The European Commission gave US$620 million to the moderate Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas in 2008. Gaza is run by Abbas' rivals from the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Mr Abbas is to request a total of US$2.8 billion for Gaza at the donors' conference. -- AP