Global financial bodies including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank plan to be present at a U.S.-led conference on the Palestinian and Middle Eastern economy this month that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has cast as an overture to its peace plan.
The much-touted economic component of the administration's peace plan, dubbed the "Peace to Prosperity Workshop" will take place on June 25-26 in Bahrain. The Palestinians have said they would boycott the event, accusing Washington of pro-Israel bias and inattention to their political demands.
Israel's new election, an upsurge in cross-border fighting and the Palestinians' resentment at U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital add to the complicated backdrop.
However, the IMF, which has been operating in the West Bank and Gaza since 1995, confirmed it and other institutions would be present in Bahrain's capital Manama.
"The IMF has been invited to the meeting and expects to attend, along with other international financial institutions," a representative said.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development confirmed it would have "someone" representing it. A World Bank spokesman said it had an invitation "and expects to attend."
Lenders and development banks have long played a stabilizing role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, providing loans, credit guarantees, and policy advice to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner this week concluded a trip to the Middle East and Europe aimed partly at drumming up support for the conference.
