(Times of Israel) Donors at an international conference in Cairo on Sunday promised $2.7 billion to rebuild war-ravaged Gaza, but all of the key participants said their efforts would be futile without a permanent peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende, who co-chaired the meeting, said pledges of $5.4 billion have been made, but that only half of that money would be "dedicated" to reconstruction. While Israel's demand that Hamas give up its arms as a condition for overseas funding did not prevail, an Israeli official told Channel 2 TV that the funding would flow only so long as the ceasefire was maintained. Further development of Gaza after reconstruction, the official said, would be contingent on the demilitarization of the Strip.
2014-10-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive