(Newsweek) Benny Avni - Very slowly and unsurely, Gaza is starting to rebuild its devastated homes after the summer war with Israel. But as winter approaches, unresolved political and regional issues are dimming any hope that there will be a quick return to normal life. The UN finally announced a week ago that the first batches of cement and steel, locked up in Gaza warehouses, could be handed over to local contractors. On Sunday, after mortars were fired from Gaza, Israeli officials temporarily shut the Kerem Shalom crossing. Egypt, reacting to an attack on Oct. 24 that killed at least 33 Egyptian troops in northern Sinai, has completely shut the border crossing with Gaza at Rafah. The pace of reconstruction also depends on future negotiations between Palestinian officials, Israel and the UN. Egypt canceled a meeting it was to host in Cairo a week ago between Israeli and Palestinian officials on long-term arrangements to rebuild Gaza. A new date for the talks has yet to be fixed. Israel is eager for Gaza's civilian infrastructure to be rebuilt fast, on the assumption that only a stable Gaza can be a peaceful neighbor. "When it comes to the civilian population, Israel fully supports international efforts to bring humanitarian relief and rebuild," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman, Mark Regev.
2014-11-04 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive