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Palestinian security summit held Donors boost Palestinian security
(about 4 hours later)
Representatives from more than 40 countries are meeting in Berlin to earmark funds for the Palestinian Authority's criminal justice system. International donors have earmarked $242m (£121m; 155m euros) to help build up the Palestinian Authority's justice system, after a conference in Berlin.
The conference is aimed at improving the Palestinians' police force, judges, courts and prisons. Delegates from more than 40 countries approved funding for the police force, judges, courts and prisons.
Improved Palestinian rule of law could help secure a peace deal with Israel, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said.Improved Palestinian rule of law could help secure a peace deal with Israel, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the conference aims to produce "concrete commitments". German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the one-day meeting's outcome had exceeded expectations.
Security focus "A clear signal of support for the building of a Palestinian state was sent from here today," the Associated Press quoted Mr Steinmeier as saying.
Ms Merkel told delegates that the meeting has "a very special task: to be a help in building a Palestinian state".
Security is the most important service any government should provide its citizens Palestinian Prime Minister Prime Minister Salam FayadSecurity is the most important service any government should provide its citizens Palestinian Prime Minister Prime Minister Salam Fayad
The head of the Palestinian delegation, Prime Minister Salam Fayad, said he saw the conference as a sign of "enthusiastic international consensus in support of the Palestinian people for freedom". Earlier the head of the Palestinian delegation, Prime Minister Salam Fayad, said he saw the conference as a sign of "enthusiastic international consensus in support of the Palestinian people for freedom".
Any funds agreed only apply to the West Bank and not the Gaza Strip - ruled by the militant Islamist movement Hamas. The funds agreed will apply only to the West Bank and not the Gaza Strip - ruled by the militant Islamist movement Hamas.
The one-day conference is being held to earmark $187m (£95m; 120m euros) from $7bn in funds already pledged at a donors' conference last year. Last year donors promised to transfer $7bn to the Palestinian Authority over the next three years.
The money would go to training Palestinian police officers and judges and to build prisons. Delegates had hoped the Berlin conference would set aside $187m for the justice system. But following the day's deliberations the figure of $242m was agreed to.
Mr Fayyad said the rule of law was key to improving the lives of Palestinians.Mr Fayyad said the rule of law was key to improving the lives of Palestinians.
"Security is the most important service any government should provide its citizens," he said."Security is the most important service any government should provide its citizens," he said.
'Build capacity''Build capacity'
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and foreign ministers from more than 20 other countries will also be present.Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and foreign ministers from more than 20 other countries will also be present.
In Berlin ahead of the conference, former UK prime minister Tony Blair said these are just the kind of measures the Palestinian Authority needs to take, if it is to convince Israel to accept a Palestinian state. Before the conference former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said these are just the kind of measures the Palestinian Authority needs to take if it is to convince Israel to accept a Palestinian state.
"A major part of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is for the Palestinians to build genuine Palestinian security capability," he told the BBC."A major part of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is for the Palestinians to build genuine Palestinian security capability," he told the BBC.
"If the Palestinians aren't capable of providing their own law and order and their own defence against anyone who wants to engage in terrorism, then it's difficult to see how the Israelis will agree to a Palestinian state.""If the Palestinians aren't capable of providing their own law and order and their own defence against anyone who wants to engage in terrorism, then it's difficult to see how the Israelis will agree to a Palestinian state."
The conference will only deal with Palestinian policing and justice in the West Bank, however.The conference will only deal with Palestinian policing and justice in the West Bank, however.
The Gaza Strip - home to about 1.5m Palestinians - has been under a tight Israeli blockade since Hamas took control of the territory last June.The Gaza Strip - home to about 1.5m Palestinians - has been under a tight Israeli blockade since Hamas took control of the territory last June.
Mr Blair admitted that there could be no lasting peace that did not include the Gaza Strip.Mr Blair admitted that there could be no lasting peace that did not include the Gaza Strip.