[Washington Post] Karin Laub - On Monday, donor countries meeting in Sharm el-Sheik in Egypt will be asked to pledge at least $2.8 billion in aid to Gaza, but for reconstruction to move forward, a series of improbable events would need to happen. Gaza's Hamas rulers would have to reconcile with their West Bank rivals led by Mahmoud Abbas. Israel and Egypt would have to recognize Hamas' governing role and reopen the borders they closed after Hamas seized Gaza by force in June 2007. Israel has also linked a border opening to a prisoner swap with Hamas. Israel says it can't allow supplies in freely, for fear Hamas - a group committed to Israel's destruction - would hijack concrete and steel to build bunkers and rockets.
2009-03-02 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive