Palestinians hope Gaza conference opens borders

EGYPT: A donors’ conference here should generate political pressure on Israel to open Gaza’s borders, in addition to raising billions of dollars for rebuilding the territory after Israel’s military offensive there, Palestinian officials said Sunday.

Some 80 donor countries and international organizations will be asked to give at least $2.8 billion at a pledging Monday.

The presidents of Egypt, France and the Palestinian territories are attending, along with 45 foreign ministers. Among the high-profile visitors is Hillary Rodham Clinton, who arrived Sunday in this Red Sea resort for her first trip to the Middle East as U.S. secretary of state.

Gaza’s Hamas rulers are not invited. Instead, the aid appeal will presented by Hamas’ moderate rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas wrested control of Gaza from Abbas’ forces in June 2007, triggering a border blockade of the territory by Israel and Egypt.

Abbas’ Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, has prepared a 53-page reconstruction plan for the donors, including detailed damage assessments. For example, fixing war damage to infrastructure and homes would cost $501 million, according to the plan, which says 4,036 homes were destroyed and 11,514 damaged.

Fayyad was optimistic Sunday. “The indications are that the conference tomorrow (Monday) will raise immediate money to implement our plan,” he told reporters in Sharm el-Sheik.

However, reconstruction can only move forward if Gaza’s borders open, he said.

“What I will tell the conference tomorrow is that what is needed now is to end the siege imposed on Gaza and to open all the border crossings,” he said.

Fayyad’s planning minister, Samir Abdullah, said Palestinians hope the conference will generate political pressure to lift the blockade. “We think that there will be messages from the conference to the Israelis in this regard,” he said.

Sharm El-Sheik,Monday, AP