US SECRETARY of state Hillary Clinton, on her first journey to the Middle East since becoming Washington’s senior cabinet member, yesterday joined delegations from more than 40 countries at the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Shaikh for today’s Gaza reconstruction conference.
While this gathering is being touted as a donors’ meeting, the $2.8 billion (€2.2 billion) needed for rebuilding the Gaza Strip, devastated by Israel’s blockade and recent offensive, has already been pledged. Saudi Arabia offered $1 billion, Qatar $250 million, Algeria $100 million, the US $900 million, the EU $554 million, and Britain $43 million.
Discussion, therefore, is expected to focus on the permanent reopening of all the crossings between Gaza and Israel, and the mechanism for dispersing funds.
For reconstruction to go ahead Israel must permit the flow of building materials, equipment and commercial goods, as well as allow a large increase in the volume of food and medicines.
Rebuilding depends on a constant supply of financial aid and of materials such as cement, iron reinforcing rods, aluminium, pipes, wire and glass, which have been prohibited by Israel since Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election.
Hamas, which rules Gaza, has repeatedly said UN agencies should undertake reconstruction, but the Fatah-dominated Pales- tinian Authority insists all funds should be channelled through the rival West Bank government of prime minister Salam Fayyad. The US agrees with the authority.
Ahead of her visit to Egypt, Mrs Clinton reaffirmed the Bush administration’s position that dealings with Hamas depend on its recognition of Israel, the ending of armed resistance, and acceptance of agreements reached by the Palestinians and Israel.
Hamas has rejected these demands but has indicated it is prepared to recognise Israel within its original borders, to abide by a long-term truce and to accept some previous agreements.
Mrs Clinton also reaffirmed US support for the two-state solution involving the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, and joined the chorus of voices calling for the opening of Gaza crossings.
When she visits Israel tomorrow she is expected to press the outgoing Israeli government of Ehud Barak to end its blockade, and for Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu to resume negotiations with the Palestinians as soon as his government is in place.
Other leaders attending the Sharm al-Shaikh meeting are Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
The quartet comprising the US, UN, EU and Russia is set to meet on the sidelines of the gathering. Its envoy, former British prime minister Tony Blair, paid his first visit to Gaza yesterday.
At a school he said: “These are the people who need to be the focus of all our efforts for peace and progress from now on.” He promised to relay what he learned in Gaza to the conference.
After meeting Mr Blair, Irish national John Ging, director of UN refugee relief in Gaza, said he hoped such visits by high-profile politicians would change “failed policies” and end the Israeli siege and blockade and the international boycott of Gaza.
Meanwhile, in Israel, the attorney general said last night that he was considering indicting prime minister Ehud Olmert in connection with allegations that he unlawfully took cash-stuffed envelopes from a Jewish-American businessman.
The decision will be made after another hearing with Mr Olmert or his lawyers, attorney general Meni Mazuz said. Should Mr Mazuz file charges, Mr Olmert would become the first Israeli prime minister ever to be indicted.
