Aid boost for Palestinians

Pledges failed to meet Palestinian expectations

International donors have agreed to commit $1.2bn to help rebuild the shattered Palestinian infrastructure and meet urgent humanitarian needs.

While pledges fell short of what Palestinian officials had hoped for, they said they "satisfied" with the outcome.

We are sending a clear message that they [Israel] must not destroy the investment that we are financing

Vidar Helgesen, Norwegian state secretary

The World Bank said about $2bn would be needed to repair damage caused by Israel's recent assault on the West Bank and the budget needs of the Palestinian Authority.

Delegates to the conference in Oslo, Norway, also urged the Palestinians to work for peace, and Israel not to destroy facilities rebuilt with the funds.

"We are sending a clear message that they [Israel] must not destroy the investment that we are financing," said Norwegian State Secretary Vidar Helgesen.

'Political message'

Ending two days of talks, donors allocated $900m towards rebuilding the Palestinian infrastructure, and $300m in emergency relief.

Palestinians say it will take six months to rebuild the West Bank

While no new pledges were made at the meeting, the funds discussed will be combined with $1bn already promised by Arab countries and the European Union.

The Palestinians had called for $500m to meet emergency needs.

"Although we didn't get the pledges we needed, I'll be going home quite satisfied", Palestinian delegate Nabil Shaath said.

The conference had delivered "an important political message of support from all the donors to the Palestinian Authority", he said.

He added that it would take about six months of "very, very intensive action" to rebuild devastated areas of the West Bank.

Palestinian state

The US Assistant Secretary of State, William Burns told the 50 or so delegates: "None of us should have any illusions about the task before us. It will be very very hard."

He said it was essential to rebuild the Palestinian institutions "which one day soon will serve as the sturdy foundation of an independent Palestinian state".

The United States, he said, was commiting about $300m to help the Palestinians.

Norway said further pledges of financial support would be made in the coming weeks, while the EU offered to host another donor meeting at ministerial level.