[It remains to be seen how the pledged donations translate in reality in the form of tangible relief for the residents of Gaza with Israel continuing to exercise decisive control over their lives. Even if it's only a symbolic gesture, the vote by the British parliamentarians asking the UK government to recognise Palestine as an independent state is of course highly welcome. So is the reported move by the new Swedish government.]
I/III. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29586636 12 October 2014 Last updated at 22:44 Donors pledge $5.4bn for Palestinians at Cairo summit The war in Gaza destroyed an estimated 18,000 homes and more than 100 schools International donors have pledged $5.4bn (£3.4bn) for the Palestinians at a conference in Cairo. The total, announced by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Boerge Brende, exceeded the $4bn (£2.5bn) the Palestinian Authority had asked for. Half the sum would be "dedicated" to work in Gaza, he said, without specifying a use for the other half. At least 100,000 Gazans lost their homes in the 50-day conflict between Israel and Hamas earlier this year. Much of the territory's infrastructure was damaged. Earlier the Palestinian and Egyptian presidents called on Israel to commit to a long-term peace initiative. Mahmoud Abbas and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi urged Israel to give up land seized in the 1967 Middle East war and accept a fair solution for Palestinian refugees in exchange for full recognition. The seven-week Gaza conflict, which ended in a truce on 26 August, killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, most of them civilians, the UN says, along with 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel. 'Major breakthrough' Speaking at a news conference, Mr Brende said half of the $5.4bn promised would be dedicated to reconstruction, and the assistance would be distributed in response to the daily needs of Palestinians. "This is a major breakthrough, a very important signal of solidarity to the Palestinian people in general and not at least to the people that are suffering so badly in Gaza," he said. Envoys from dozens of countries attended the Cairo conference, which was hosted by Egypt's President Sisi. Qatar alone promised $1bn (£622m). The US pledged $212m (£132m) in new aid, while the United Arab Emirates and Turkey both committed $200m (£124m). The Palestinian Authority says it needs $4bn for reconstruction efforts in Gaza European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said donations from member states would reach $568m (£353m). Cycle of conflict Earlier US Secretary of State John Kerry said that with winter approaching, the thousands of Palestinians displaced from their homes needed urgent help. "The people of Gaza do need our help desperately, not tomorrow, not next week, but they need it now" he said at the conference. He added that anything other than a long-term commitment to peace would be a "band-aid fix". Rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel during the recent conflict. The two sides have fought three wars in six years At the opening of the conference, President Sisi urged "the Israelis, both the people and the government" to put an end to the conflict. "We should turn this moment into a real starting point to achieve a peace that secures stability and flourishing and renders the dream of coexistence a reality," he said. Correspondents say some neighbourhoods in Gaza resembled earthquake zones following intense bombardment from Israel during the war. The Israeli air strikes had sought to halt rocket-fire from Gaza. The two sides have fought three wars in six years. Contentious issue Israel was not invited to the conference but Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman earlier said any rebuilding efforts would need his government's consent. "You can't reconstruct Gaza without Israeli participation and without Israeli co-operation," he told news website Ynet ahead of the meeting on Sunday. "In any case, we will try to be positive about the civil infrastructure and the rehabilitation of civilians." Rebuilding depends on Israel allowing in enough construction materials, the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo reports. This is a contentious issue because Hamas has used cement to build tunnels into Israeli territory in the past, our correspondent adds. Hour of need Announcing the UK's $32m donation in Cairo, International Development Minister Desmond Swayne said the international community could not continue to pick up the pieces of the conflict indefinitely. "It is critical that reconstruction efforts now form part of a process of meaningful political change," he said. The Gaza Strip, sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, has been a recurring flashpoint in the Israel-Palestinian conflict for years. Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. Israel considered this the end of the occupation, though the UN continues to regard Gaza as part of Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory. Israel exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, waters and airspace, while Egypt controls Gaza's southern border. II/III. http://warincontext.org/2014/10/12/palestinian-authority-forces-take-control-of-gaza-crossings-as-donors-pledge-millions-for-reconstruction/ Palestinian Authority forces take control of Gaza crossings as donors pledge millions for reconstruction By News Sources on October 12, 2014 Ma'an reports: The Palestinian Authority is set to assume responsibility for the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings in Gaza on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa said. Mustafa, who is also head of a reconstruction committee for Gaza, told Ma'an Friday that the PA will take charge of building materials entering Gaza and the movement of Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank. Representatives in the health, agriculture, housing and civil affairs ministries will be in charge of monitoring materials for their respective sector. The Associated Press reports: Qatar pledged $1 billion Sunday toward the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after this year's devastating Israel-Hamas war, once again using its vast wealth to reinforce its role as a regional player as Gulf Arab rival the United Arab Emirates promised $200 million. The pledges followed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier announcing immediate American assistance of $212 million, though Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said Gaza needs $4 billion to rebuild. Human Rights Watch says: Donor countries at the October 12, 2014 conference on assistance to Palestine should press Israel to lift sweeping, unjustified restrictions on the movement of people and goods into and out of the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch said today. The United Nations Security Council should reinforce previous resolutions ignored by Israel calling for the removal of unjustified restrictions. Blanket Israeli restrictions unconnected or disproportionate to security considerations unnecessarily harm people's access to food, water, education, and other fundamental rights in Gaza. Israel's unwillingness to lift such restrictions will seriously hinder a sustainable recovery after a seven-year blockade and the July-August fighting that damaged much of Gaza, Human Rights Watch said. III. http://news.yahoo.com/british-parliament-hold-symbolic-vote-palestine-status-000655290--business.html UK lawmakers pass symbolic motion to recognise Palestine as a state Reuters By William James 10 hours ago By William James LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers voted in favour of recognising Palestine as a state on Monday in a move which will not alter the government's stance on the issue, but which carries symbolic value for Palestinians in their pursuit of international recognition. Britain does not classify Palestine as a state, but says it could do so at any time if it believed it would help peace efforts between the Palestinians and Israel. Prime Minister David Cameron abstained from the vote, which was called by an opposition lawmaker, and Cameron's spokesman earlier said that foreign policy would not be affected whatever the outcome. However, the vote was closely watched by Palestinian and Israeli authorities who are seeking to gauge European countries' readiness to act on Palestinian hopes for unilateral recognition by U.N. member states. ***The final motion, which passed by 274 votes to 12 stated: "That this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution."*** [Emphasis added.] ***The vote comes just as Sweden's new centre-left government is set to officially recognise Palestine, a move that has been condemned by Israel, which says an independent Palestine can only be achieved through negotiations.*** [Emphasis added.] (Editing by Stephen Powell, Crispian Balmer and Chris Reese) -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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