Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., December 23, 2007 Tevet 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:28 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaking in Paris on Tuesday, a day after the PA donors' conference. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 12:47 22/12/2007 UN: PA donors' conference is step towards Palestinian state By The Associated Press Tags: Palestinians, United Nations  The United Nations Security Council called this week's Palestinian Authority donors conference a "strong signal of support for the Palestinian people" and an important step toward the creation of a Palestinian state living at peace with Israel, in a statement released on Friday. The conference, held Monday in Paris, was the most ambitious fundraising effort in more than a decade, with 87 countries and international organizations pledging $7.4 billion over the next three years to the Palestinians. The money is aimed at helping the Palestinians create a viable, peaceful and secure state of their own, and to promote new peace talks with Israel. A press statement approved by all 15 council members on Friday reaffirmed the council's commitment to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Advertisement "The members of the Security Council welcome the international donors' conference ... which has provided a strong international signal of support to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority and which constitutes an important step in a broader process aiming at the realization of the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security," the statement said. The council thanked donors and urged that the money be rapidly disbursed. It also urged all countries and international organizations to assist in developing the Palestinian economy and help build Palestinian institutions in preparation for statehood. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN observer, said that while the statement did not reflect all the elements the Palestinians wanted it to include "we consider it as a step in the right direction." "It is a modest but important step," he said. "The significance of it is that the Security Council is determined to remain engaged in the political process and to help to see the negotiation between the two parties reach its ultimate conclusion by reaching a peace treaty, hopefully during the year 2008." "This would put an end to occupation and to allow the Palestinian state to be born next to Israel on all the areas that Israel occupied in 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution to the refugee question," Mansour said. He said this statement, in conjunction with the Paris donors conference, the U.S.-sponsored Mideast conference in Annapolis, Maryland, and UN General Assembly resolutions in support of the Palestinians, indicate that the international community is determined to continue being engaged and to help the two parties to reach that peace treaty and allow the Palestinian state to be born. On Nov. 30, the United States suddenly withdrew a UN resolution endorsing the agreement between Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the Annapolis conference to try to reach a Mideast peace settlement by the end of 2008 because of Israeli objections, even though it had overwhelming support in the Security Council. Well-informed diplomats said at the time that Israel did not want a resolution because it would bring the Security Council, which it distrusts, into the fledgling negotiations with the Palestinians. The brief statement that the council agreed to did not mention Annapolis. France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, whose country drafted the statement, welcomed the spirit of compromise in reaching agreement on the text shown by Palestinian and Israeli diplomats, saying it clearly had its roots in Annapolis. "It will be in our view a very strong signal, a positive step towards achieving the goals of the Annapolis conference," he said. Why did the council agree on Friday's statement and not on the resolution endorsing the outcome of the Annapolis meeting? "It is very clear that this text is mainly about the support that was expressed in the Paris conference to the Palestinian state and the Palestinian people, but the conference in Paris took place in the framework of Annapolis," Ripert said. "So by recognizing the important step and the positive step of the Paris conference, of course, we are also taking note of the success that was Annapolis," he said. Related articles: U.S. withdraws UN Annapolis resolution after Israel objects Ahead of Paris donor summit, PA warns against E. J'lem building Bookmark to del.icio.us Bye bye Borat Sacha Baron Cohen will reportedly retire his much-loved alter-egos Borat and Ali G. Divided reformists Reform head Eric Yoffie slams a vote on Jerusalem by the Conference of Presidents.   1.   Abbas is 24/7 portrayed as a "moderate" and a "peacemaker" 04:55  |  Joseph E . 22/12/07   2.   It will be interesting to see how much of the money will be 05:15  |  lakshmi 22/12/07   3.   UN message: we support genocidal projects 05:27  |  Frank 22/12/07   4.   palestinian state 06:21  |  Edifice 22/12/07   5.   I hope the money does not disappear like it did before to line 07:31  |  Marwan مروان خوري 22/12/07   6.   $7B, Road Map , Disengagement , All is Left for Olmert to do is 07:50  |  Joseph E . 22/12/07   7.   Hope... 09:01  |  Esther 22/12/07   8.   Peace does not depend on support 09:06  |  KUTW 22/12/07   9.   Beware, Israel 09:09  |  KUTW 22/12/07   10.   ?The UN`s commitment to peace? 09:12  |  KUTW 22/12/07   11.   HOW HUMANE: PUMPING BLOOD INTO A DEAD BODY 09:40  |  Obed 22/12/07   12.   UN 11:37  |  Daved 22/12/07   13.   # 1 your point is irrelevant as 11:44  |  Kris 22/12/07   14.   # 2 The EU has rather sufficient 11:47  |  Kris 22/12/07   15.   # 3 the only thing repulsive here 11:49  |  Kris 22/12/07   16.   # 4 entities do not let 11:53  |  Kris 22/12/07   17.   # 5 say how many did Canada pledge to the palestinian? 11:54  |  Kris 22/12/07   18.   More bombs 12:04  |  H 22/12/07   19.   # 8,# 9, #10 12:11  |  Kris 22/12/07   20.   # 10 ...and so you would deny palestinians 12:14  |  Kris 22/12/07   21.   # 7 And lets hope the $$ is spent on the WELFARE of pals 12:19  |  Petra 22/12/07   22.   # 12 the UN cannot implement anything 12:23  |  Kris 22/12/07   23.   To Lakshmi and Marwan 12:29  |  Ruth 22/12/07   24.   Cut out middleman-deposit $$$ direct into Pal Bosses Swiss Banks 12:39  |  Alan 22/12/07   25.   A step toward a Palestinian state? haha, very funny 14:19  |  Natallie Durson 22/12/07   26.   lay down your weapons 14:20  |  real vision 22/12/07   27.   Peace Fantasy 15:32  |  Brod 22/12/07   28.   Your advocacy ease up the rise of anti-christ 15:41  |  Joseph E . 22/12/07   29.   kris, are you one of 15:41  |  I know 22/12/07   30.   Rumour-Dachlan+Qur+MarBarguti want to get hands on the$7.4Billion 15:51  |  Alan 22/12/07   31.   #20kris -py kreme the king of do- nuts 16:33  |  victor hardman 22/12/07   32.   To #3: BS 16:41  |  Frank 22/12/07   33.   To #17: O Canada 16:43  |  Frank 22/12/07   34.   To all well-wishers of Israel 18:16  |  Yonatan 22/12/07   35.   kris # 17 how much did austria pledge to the pals? 19:20  |  terrornator 22/12/07   36.   damn right kris # 20 i would deny giving the palestinians a 19:25  |  terrornator 22/12/07   37.   share the billions? nope. 23:17  |  dav zee 22/12/07   38.   share the billions? nope. 23:17  |  dav zee 22/12/07   39.   PA donors` conference is step towards--MORE Swiss bank accounts 02:42  |  PETER SM 23/12/07   40.   IIf the world gave palestinians $50 billion 06:41  |  Chick 23/12/07

Today Online Israel fears clash with U.S. over impasse in peace talks Responses: 53 Reform head: U.S. Jews mustn't oppose compromise on J'lem Responses: 18 Israel expands plans for new homes in E. J'lem, W. Bank Send response Meron Benvenisti: Israeli Arabs must stop mourning Nakba Send response Haaretz.com TV: Darfur refugee with cancer is still in jail Send response Rosner's Domain Riedel: "Israel will attack Iran" (WTR) Hijacked by the demanding, spoiled Bar Mitzvah families Romney to Evangelicals, like Messianic Jews to Jews (WTR) Rosner's Guest: deNazify the Palestinian culture More Headlines 10:15 Israel expands plans for new homes in E. J'lem, W. Bank 10:16 Israel fears crisis with U.S. over impasse in peace talks 02:12 Barak, Mubarak to discuss truce with Hamas in Egypt Wednesday 09:18 Reform head: U.S. Jews must not oppose compromise on Jerusalem 04:28 Religious outpost takes over secular settlement in West Bank 09:53 New talks between lecturers, Finance Ministry break down 10:26 Radical Black Panthers bury group's leader Sa'adia Marciano 09:35 Treasury demands billion-shekel cut due to welfare spending 03:03 Legal effort slows building for Arabs in East J'lem village 01:01 Police bust mastermind burglar 'The Brain' breaking into Judaica store Previous Editions Select Day 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved