NABLUS, West Bank: Two investment conferences will be held later this year to try to boost the Palestinian economy and US-backed peace talks, Palestinian and Western officials involved in the preparations said yesterday.

BEIT IBA, West Bank (AP) Tony Blair toured a Palestinian aluminum factory Thursday and was told it runs at one-third capacity because of Israeli import restrictions. He promised he’ll take it up with Israeli authorities.

RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY: A senior Palestinian official yesterday rejected a proposal by Israeli Defense Minster Ehud Barak to give the Palestinians some neighborhoods in East Jerusalem to be the capital of the Palestinian state.