International Community Pledges Billions To Rebuild Gaza Strip But Push For Permanent Peace Read Mo

[Purveyor]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

October 13, 2014 - 8:39AM

Cairo: International donors have pledged about $US5.4 billion ($6.2 billion) in aid to the devastated Gaza Strip and urged Israel and the Palestinians to renew peace efforts.

Sunday's conference in Cairo was aimed at financing the reconstruction of swaths of Gaza destroyed in a 50-day war in July and August between Israel and Hamas.

"The participants pledged approximately $US5.4 billion," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende, reading out a closing statement at the conference, which Norway co-hosted.

"The people of Gaza do need our help, desperately, not tomorrow, not next week, they need it now," US Secretary of State John Kerry told the gathering of more than 40 diplomats.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/international-community-pledges-billions-to-rebuild-gaza-strip-but-push-for-permanent-peace-20141013-115471.html

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I'm sure construction companies in israel will be most delighted with this 'extra work'...

[Rhinodawg]

1. It's so easy...

All Hamas has to say is " we accept Israel " and mean it.

Gaza would so much better off as friends than enemies.

[branford]

2. If the past is any indicator, less than a third of the pledges will materialize.

Moreover, as discussed in a related thread, how does the President intend to convince Congress to appropriate the $212 million pledge by the USA from Secretary Kerry, when Congress is seriously considering slashing the $400+ million in aid we provide the Palestinians due to the unity government with Hamas.

[Purveyor]

3. It will only get support if the contractors for the rebuild are israelis. eom

[branford]

4. The contractors are rarely Israeli for security reasons, and are almost always local,

except for special or unique skills, and then they're usually European.

The suppliers, however, come from all over, and the diversity is intended to encourage donations and recycle some of the pledges into domestic economies. It's similar to how much of our Israeli aid must be used to buy American products.

Ironically, Israel generally supports these Palestinian fundraising efforts. They have no objection to Palestinians building schools, hospitals or private homes. Their issue is security, and monitoring the use of the money and goods is paramount. In fact, the currently agreed inspection regime with the UN is very onerous, and articles detailing complaints are numerous. I also expect that within a year or two, there will be proof of misused money and construction materials, and it will signal the routine and expected deterioration of the current calm.