| It's for the 'reconstruction' of Mahmoud's accounts in Switzerland and the Caymans... |
The Palestinian president will ask donor countries for $4 billion for Gaza reconstruction after a summer war between Israel and Hamas damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes and more than 5,000 businesses, according to a report Mahmoud Abbas is to present to a pledging conference this month.
According to the 72-page reconstruction report, leaked to obtained by The Associated Press late Thursday, the Palestinian government will request $4 billion in emergency relief and reconstruction funds. It will also ask donors to pledge an additional $4.5 billion in support for the Palestinian government's military budget through 2017.
The Gaza pledging conference will be held in Cairo on Oct. 12.
| I'm sure the Egyptian military will extend every courtesy... |
Meanwhile, Israel's army chief said in comments published Friday that it would serve Israeli security interests to allow construction materials to enter blockaded Gaza.
| Particularly the fly-ash... |
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz told the Haaretz daily that Hamas suffered military setbacks during the war, but that Israel can only secure long-term quiet on its border with Gaza if "an economic anchor backs up what was achieved in the fighting."
| The concurrent assassination of all the Hamas leaders would help... |
"We need to permit the opening of the strip to goods," Gantz was quoted as saying. "In the end, there are 1.8 million people there, with Israel and Egypt surrounding them. These people need to live."
| Isn't it up to the 1.8 million people then to create conditions that would let them live? |
The reconstruction would also require Israel to permit the import of large quantities of fly ash cement, pig iron steel and other construction materials. Under a recent deal between Israel, the Abbas government and the United Nations, Israel would allow such imports, provided Palestinian and UN inspectors make sure they are not diverted by Hamas for military use.
| The Pal inspectors will allow the diversion out of patriotism, the UN inspectors from fear of being killed. |
| ...or love of the cause of the noble native Palestinian. |
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