Departing envoy hits out at Palestinian aid cuts

JERUSALEM - International envoy James Wolfensohn, in his final report to Middle East mediators after stepping down, has questioned the decision of Western powers to cut off aid to the Palestinian Government.

With more than US$1 billion ($1.59 billion) a year having been spent on assistance, much of it to build conditions for a "viable Palestinian state", the report asked, "Will we now simply abandon these goals?"

It said the UN and other organisations would not be able to fill the void if Palestinian Authority institutions collapsed.

- REUTERS