IKEA could be coming to the Palestinian Authority

JERUSALEM (JTA) — IKEA is considering opening a branch in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Two IKEA executives visited Ramallah last month and met with the Palestinian Authority Minister of the Economy Jawad al-Naji, according to the Israeli daily Yediot Acharonot.

There are two IKEA megastores in Israel, in Netanya and Rishon Lezion. A third IKEA megastore is scheduled to open in Kiryat Ata in 2014.

IKEA plans to have the new employees of the Ramallah store train for their jobs at the Netanya store, which has an employee training center, according to the newspaper.

Matthew Bronfman, the franchisee for IKEA in Israel was updated by company executives on the talks with the Palestinian Authority. “If asked, we’ll be happy to help establish the store,” Bronfman told Yediot.