(Wall Street Journal) Jay Solomon and Joshua Mitnick - The Obama administration is mapping out an economic strategy in the Palestinian areas of the West Bank, using both U.S. government funds and private-sector involvement, in a bid to restart direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The Obama administration is betting that economic improvements will encourage Palestinians to view peace talks positively. "Economic growth will help us be able to provide...greater confidence about moving forward," Secretary of State John Kerry said in Tel Aviv. The U.S. economic package would come amid a two-year economic slowdown in the Palestinian territories. Though the West Bank experienced strong growth from 2008 to 2011, a shortfall in international donor funding has spurred a liquidity crisis in the Palestinian Authority.
2013-04-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive