BICOM

Major Western powers told the PA that despite their support of Palestinian readiness for statehood, they stood behind direct negotiations as the best way to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The message was conveyed at an international summit of countries and international bodies financially supporting the Palestinian Authority. The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee met to assess the economic and institutional capacity of the PA and concluded that “The PA is above the threshold for a functioning state in key sectors” based on assessments by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.

Quartet’s Middle East envoy Tony Blair said the only way to Palestinian statehood was through negotiations. But he said negotiations were not enough and that it must go together with Palestinian institutional capacity to run such a state. “There is really only one alternative that brings about a Palestinian state: credible political negotiations,” Blair said.