The Obama administration lauded the progress of Palestinian security services.

"The program has witnessed increased coordination of activities amongst international donors, and is achieving notable progress on security, justice, corrections, and other new fronts," the U.S. State Department said in a statement issued Sunday.

The statement marked last weekend's visit to the region by William Brownfield, the assistant secretary of state who is responsible for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which runs the training program for Palestinian Authority police.

The Obama administration has been pressing Israel to cede more authority to the Palestinian security services as a means of building Palestinian confidence and advancing the peace process.