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| Kerry in Cairo for talks on rebuilding war-ravaged Gaza | Kerry in Cairo for talks on rebuilding war-ravaged Gaza |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| CAIRO — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cairo early Sunday to meet with his counterparts from European and Arab nations to talk about rebuilding the ravaged Gaza Strip, but many donors are reluctant to contribute for fear that Hamas and Israel will fight again and any reconstruction will just be knocked down in the next year or two. | CAIRO — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cairo early Sunday to meet with his counterparts from European and Arab nations to talk about rebuilding the ravaged Gaza Strip, but many donors are reluctant to contribute for fear that Hamas and Israel will fight again and any reconstruction will just be knocked down in the next year or two. |
| In his opening remarks, Kerry announced the U.S. would send an additional $212 million aid to help with relief and reconstruction of Gaza as well as an additional $84 million for the U.N. relief agency in Gaza, bringing the U.S. contribution to more than $400 million. | |
| “This immediate money will mean immediate relief, reconstruction,” he said. “This money will help meet the Palestinana Authority’s budget needs. This money will we hope help security and stability and economic development.” | “This immediate money will mean immediate relief, reconstruction,” he said. “This money will help meet the Palestinana Authority’s budget needs. This money will we hope help security and stability and economic development.” |
| The new money is more than triple the $118 million the U.S. already has paid for Gaza aid since the war this summer. | |
| Kerry also was expected to make a plea for Israel and the Palestinians to resume negotiations for a more lasting settlement, as a way to persuade skeptical donor nations that the projects they fund will not be destroyed. Israel and the Islamic militant movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, have fought three wars in six years and after each confrontation, the donors have been asked to pay for the damage. | Kerry also was expected to make a plea for Israel and the Palestinians to resume negotiations for a more lasting settlement, as a way to persuade skeptical donor nations that the projects they fund will not be destroyed. Israel and the Islamic militant movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, have fought three wars in six years and after each confrontation, the donors have been asked to pay for the damage. |
| The U.S. contribution is a small share of the $4 billion the Palestinians say is needed for reconstruction of housing and infrastructure over the next three years. | The U.S. contribution is a small share of the $4 billion the Palestinians say is needed for reconstruction of housing and infrastructure over the next three years. |
| Most of the money is expected to come from the oil-rich nations of the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who compete for regional influence in Arab affairs. | Most of the money is expected to come from the oil-rich nations of the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who compete for regional influence in Arab affairs. |
| The 50-day war in Gaza this summer was the most destructive yet — with an estimated cost of rebuilding three times worse than the 2008 war. | The 50-day war in Gaza this summer was the most destructive yet — with an estimated cost of rebuilding three times worse than the 2008 war. |
| According to the Palestinians, 2,145 people were killed in Gaza during the hostilities, including 581 children. The United Nations estimates that almost 70 percent of the dead were civilians. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that 1,000 of the fatalities were “terrorists.” | According to the Palestinians, 2,145 people were killed in Gaza during the hostilities, including 581 children. The United Nations estimates that almost 70 percent of the dead were civilians. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that 1,000 of the fatalities were “terrorists.” |
| The Palestinians say that 18,000 houses were destroyed in the bombing, rendering 100,000 people homeless. The Gaza population is 1.7 million. | The Palestinians say that 18,000 houses were destroyed in the bombing, rendering 100,000 people homeless. The Gaza population is 1.7 million. |
| The United Nations reports 40,000 people without homes are still be being sheltered in 19 U.N. schools in Gaza. | The United Nations reports 40,000 people without homes are still be being sheltered in 19 U.N. schools in Gaza. |
| The destruction includes telecommunications, schools, sanitation, mosques, hospitals and some of the largest factories in Gaza. The Palestinians say that 20 percent of Gaza’s industrial enterprises were damaged or destroyed. Before the war broke out, more than 40 percent of the Gaza workforce was unemployed. | The destruction includes telecommunications, schools, sanitation, mosques, hospitals and some of the largest factories in Gaza. The Palestinians say that 20 percent of Gaza’s industrial enterprises were damaged or destroyed. Before the war broke out, more than 40 percent of the Gaza workforce was unemployed. |
| The Israelis say that their military was forced to strike at or near schools and hospitals because Hamas was using the buildings — and the civilians in and around them — as human shields to hide their rocket launchers. | The Israelis say that their military was forced to strike at or near schools and hospitals because Hamas was using the buildings — and the civilians in and around them — as human shields to hide their rocket launchers. |
| Much of the damaged infrastructure had been built with international aid. In some cases, buildings and infrastructure were restored only to be destroyed again. | Much of the damaged infrastructure had been built with international aid. In some cases, buildings and infrastructure were restored only to be destroyed again. |
| As part of the Palestinian request, the United Nations Relief Works Agency, known as UNRWA, is asking the donors for $1.6 billion. | As part of the Palestinian request, the United Nations Relief Works Agency, known as UNRWA, is asking the donors for $1.6 billion. |
| Chris Gunness, a spokesman for UNRWA called the figure “the largest single ask in UNRWA’s 64-year history. It’s unprecedented, reflecting the massive scale of destruction and the profound level of need the beleaguered people of Gaza are experiencing today.” | Chris Gunness, a spokesman for UNRWA called the figure “the largest single ask in UNRWA’s 64-year history. It’s unprecedented, reflecting the massive scale of destruction and the profound level of need the beleaguered people of Gaza are experiencing today.” |
| The Arab League had set a goal of $5 billion, an astronomical figure nobody expected to be approached. A sense of donor fatigue hangs heavy over the luxurious J.W. Marriott Hotel in Cairo’s modern, upscale Heliopolis neighborhood. Expectations are not high that the goal can be met, especially as nations face the prospect of economic slowdown in Asia and the euro-zone. | The Arab League had set a goal of $5 billion, an astronomical figure nobody expected to be approached. A sense of donor fatigue hangs heavy over the luxurious J.W. Marriott Hotel in Cairo’s modern, upscale Heliopolis neighborhood. Expectations are not high that the goal can be met, especially as nations face the prospect of economic slowdown in Asia and the euro-zone. |
| U.S. officials are stressing that it is necessary to break the pattern of war and reconstruction, and a return to negotiations that collapsed in the spring would send that signal. | U.S. officials are stressing that it is necessary to break the pattern of war and reconstruction, and a return to negotiations that collapsed in the spring would send that signal. |
| “I think that there’s a lot of discouragement around the world about where we are on efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “I think people feel like they’ve lost some hope that that’s really going to be possible.” | “I think that there’s a lot of discouragement around the world about where we are on efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “I think people feel like they’ve lost some hope that that’s really going to be possible.” |
| Booth reported from Jerusalem. | Booth reported from Jerusalem. |