Bahrain says conference co-hosted with US aimed at helping Palestinians

DUBAI: Bahrain said Tuesday a peace conference it is co-hosting next month with the US is aimed at helping the Palestinians, who have criticised the Gulf kingdom for failing to consult them about the event. The conference “serves no other purpose” than to help the Palestinian people “through developing their abilities and enhancing their resources”, said Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa. The kingdom “remains supportive of the brotherly Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate rights on their land as well as establishing an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital”, Bahrain’s top diplomat said in a statement. The White House announced Sunday it would co-host the June 25-26 conference with Bahrain focusing on economic aspects of the long-delayed US peace plan.