US Pledges $900 Million To Palestinians
By Rodney Drinnen Worthy News International Correspondent
WASHINGTON/GAZA CITY (Worthy News) — Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and the West Bank were awaiting Monday, March 16, the arrival of $900 million pledged by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton despite an economic crisis at home, to help achieve a Palestinian state “that is peaceful” and “responsible”.
In comments monitored by Worthy News, Clinton said she made the promise at the international donors conference for rebuilding the Gaza Strip, in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, on March 2.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said $300 million of the total aid package will go to help rebuild Gaza following the recent fighting with Israel, but stressed that none of the money will benefit Hamas militants, who do not recognize Israel’s right to exist.
Critics have said however it will be difficult to monitor whether tax payers money will not end up in the hand of militants. The United States was among 71 states attending the Egypt gathering along with 16 regional, international, and financial organizations who raised billions of dollars to boost the Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank, and help rebuild Gaza.
They raised $4.5 billion dollars on top of $700 million already previously pledged by the international community, nearly twice as much than planned.
A delighted Egyptian foreign minister called the amount “beyond our expectations”.
Britain’s International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, pledged £30 million to rebuild houses, schools, and hospitals in Gaza. “There is a desperate need for tough restrictions on the supply of goods to be relaxed,” he said, demanding next that “Israel must do the right thing and allow much-needed goods to get through to those men, women and children who continue to suffer.”
The Gulf Cooperation Council, a Middle East aid fund, vowed to contribute $1.65 billion over the next five years to ease Gaza’s humanitarian situation and help its social and economic reconstruction. Among other nations, Saudi Arabia has pledged $1 billion for the Palestinians, Qatar $250 million and Algeria $100 million.
Last year, Saudi Arabia already pledged to pay for the reconstruction of all buildings demolished in Gaza by previous deadly Israeli incursions.
Health Minister Hamad Al-Manie had said that King Abdullah had ordered the reconstruction as part of the kingdom’s support for the Palestinian people and their cause.
“The king has ordered the reconstruction of Palestinian houses at the expense of the Saudi government,” Al-Manie said during a press conference in Egypt on Thursday, quoted Arabic daily Al-Jaz.