PA says it is ready to declare statehood

The Palestinian Authority cabinet on Thursday said the PA has completed the construction of capable and efficient institutions which makes it ready for an independent Palestinian state. The cabinet stressed its support for the UN initiative which it said was aimed to make the international community take on its responsibility toward the Palestinian people’s rights of freedom and self-determination. Ramallah-based Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said he was determined to resolve by the beginning of next year a financial crisis that has threatened civil servants' salaries throughout the summer. The cabinet also thanked Saudi Arabia for transferring $200 million to the PA's treasury and affirmed its trust in the Palestinian people's commitment to nonviolence in the face of attacks by soldiers and settlers.