Palestinians 'ready for statehood'

Donor nations have reaffirmed the Palestinian Authority’s readiness for statehood based on new reports from key international financial institutions and the United Nations.

The backing from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the donors at a meeting last night should give a boost to the Palestinians as they press their bid for UN membership as an independent state.

Norway’s foreign minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who chairs the donors support group, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, said efforts “to build robust state institutions and revive the Palestinian economy stand out as a remarkable international success story”.

He said: “It’s now crucial to safeguard these achievements and the progress made so far.”