European conference secures $242m commitment to strengthen PA

Germany's foreign minister says an international conference aimed at strengthening the Palestinian police force and judicial system has secured commitments of $242 million for specific projects.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier says the outcome of the one-day conference exceeded expectations. He says that the conference sent a clear signal of support for the building of a Palestinian state. Organizers had hoped representatives from more than 40 countries at the one-day gathering would commit $189 million to projects that include police training, building a forensic lab and prisons, installing communications networks, and building and running courthouses. (AP)