US Gaza Aid To Top $900M: US Official

JERUSALEM — United States aid for the Gaza Strip's reconstruction will likely top $900 million, an official said, as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton prepared to make her first Mideast trip as America's top diplomat.

Israeli and Palestinian officials said Clinton will visit Israel and the West Bank during the first week of March. Clinton said during her trip to Asia last week that she would attend an international donors conference in Egypt on March 2 to discuss reconstruction in Gaza.

She provided no other details, but a U.S. official in the United States said Monday that the Obama administration's donation will be at least $900 million in humanitarian and rebuilding aid to the Palestinian Authority to help Gaza recover from Israel's offensive against Hamas last month.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the donation had not received final approval, said the exact amount was still to be determined.

The official added that the aid would not go to Hamas. The U.S. recognizes the West Bank-based government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and has no formal contacts with the Islamic militant group Hamas, which runs a separate Palestinian administration in the Gaza Strip.

Money often is funneled into Gaza through international organizations such as the United Nations, or through Abbas' government, which deposits it directly into Gazans' bank accounts.

Israeli officials, meanwhile, said Clinton will arrive in Israel on March 2 for meetings with the country's top leaders. Israel is currently ruled by a caretaker government as Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu cobbles together a new coalition.

The Israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the visit had not been announced by the State Department, which has not released Clinton's schedule for next week.

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Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior aide to Abbas, said Clinton also would visit the West Bank during her stay.

On Tuesday, Abbas said a new national unity government that includes rival Hamas must be in place and internationally recognized as part of managing humanitarian aid for Gaza and elsewhere.

Reconciliation talks are scheduled to begin in Egypt on Wednesday between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah movement.

Past efforts to form a unity government have failed. Abbas said one reason was that key powers, including Israel and the United States, refused to accept a coalition that included Hamas.

"This (new unity) government must have the acceptance and recognition of all parties," said Abbas.

___

Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report.

Comments

[chirps]

Noura Erakat Posted February 17, 2009. Huffington Post

Investigating War Crimes on our Fact Finding Mission to Gaza

“The ordeal unfolded on the night of January 3rd as Israeli planes and tanks began shelling the neighborhood and residents rushed to their homes for shelter. Zeitouna's residents awoke the next morning to the sight of hundreds of Israeli soldiers in their neighborhood. The soldiers rushed Ibrahim's home, forcibly expelling its sixteen inhabitants into the neighboring house. The soldiers later forced the huddled families into yet another home where they joined nearly 110 residents of the Zeitouna neighborhood. The residents anxiously awaited their fate under house arrest and the denial of food, water, and such basic necessities as baby powder. After a long and sleepless night, Zeitouna's residents heard the Israeli Army's first shelling of the overcrowded house at approximately 7 am. Moments later the Israeli Army propelled another shell at what had become the neighborhood's collective shelter; killing dozens of people directly on impact, including Ibrahim's wife and four sons. A second round of shelling destroyed a wall of the home through which the survivors fled. As these civilians ran out of the burning home and towards the main street--Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition at them. The Israeli soldiers shot Mu'tassim, cradled by his mother, in his chest killing him instantly (see picture attached).­”

Your American tax dollars at work! Be sure and thank your representative in the US Congress for making this all possible.

[skialethia]

Every penny of this aid should be subtracted from the $3 billion aid that Israel receives from the U.S. yearly. They broke it; they fix it. Why should America have to clean up after the Israelis bombing raids? In addition, no more military aid to Israel until it takes action towards peace; i.e. starts dismantling the settlements on the West Bank!

[BubbaC33]

Gaza attacked Israel. Hamas attacked Israel. Israel defended itself from attacks by the armed thugs ruling Gaza. To answer your question, the US should not provide any money to Gaza.

[rkimball]

the last time we rebuilt gaza the $600 million was diverted for weapons. i wonder how much of this almost billion will be diverted.

[chirps]

$600 million went for weapons? Some AK-47's and homemade rockets cost $600 million? You wouldn't be telling lies, would you?

[BubbaC33]

It is foolish to claim Hamas is using home-made rockets, it simply isn't true.

[stell]

I hear that they have this great economy, why don't they pay to rebuild it?

[stell]

So we fund the attacks, then will pay the perpetrator's contractors to rebuild it. Sound familiar? Break it, then get paid to rebuild it. Why, that sounds like welfare, doesn't it?

[thruthseeker]

look at the borders of all african and middle east countries, does any of them look like natural boundaries or was it drawn in pencil and ruler.
Many countries and boundaries were drawn and redrawn in the last century.
And only the palestinians are still in refugee camps stoking fires and complaining of the aftermath.
By reacting, Israel might not get a quiet front , but neither will palestinians sleep well at night
In 1948, Armies attacked at ounce. An army that was a few days old, with no Airforce ( 12 pipers) no american bullet or help, routed them in a miraculous fashion.

You can take all the weapons out of israel, but you will never take Israel's soul.

[almazza98]

Yes, we won't take Israel's soul.... The devil did.

[chirps]

The Third Attempt: I keep asking you questions and you keep disappearing. So let me try again. You said, “Why would the US sell F16's to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan? One produced the guys that blew up the towers…" And I asked you if you knew WHY they "blew up" the towers; that is, what gave Bin Laden the idea to attack the Twin Towers to begin with? Do you know?

PS: Unlike Israel, Saudia Arabia PAYS for its F-16.

[BubbaC33]

Israel apsy for the military hardware we get from the US, just as we pay for the military hardware we get from other sources.
bin Laden attacked the towers with the idea it might force the US and other infidels to leave the land of the Prophet.
Which is not a justification for the terrorism.

[Bazjoz]

"nochaos".­.. not really sure what you mean by "Israeli won land".

This is neither the 18th nor 19th century, and International law forbids the claiming and occupation of land conquered in war; even the USSR had to eventually give up it's annexed countries.­.. the last "land won" was in the Oklahoma Territories, where they literally raced for the plots of land.

[BubbaC33]

You could not be more wrong, there are a number of legal means for holding land taken during a war, especially a defensive war. In 1967 Israel was fighting a defensive war when it tokk so much territory, most of which ahs been returned. INcluded in the returned territory were oil fields sufficient to take care of most of Israel's petro needs.
Whcih brings up why Israel has a right to continue to hold the West Bank. It was taken during a defensive war, which mewans we can hold it. Add to that the idea of extinctive prescription, another part of i-law that alos argues for ownership by Israel.

[skialethia]

The entire world is against Israel holding on the the land and expanding settlements!!!!!!!

[Bazjoz]

We paid for the weapons Israel used to destroy Gaza, and now we have to pay for reconstruc­tion...WHY­? wouldn't it have made sense to not supply the means of destruction in the first place?....­...

[skialethia]

Olmert still owes over $300 at an Israeli restaurant for a meal he had with a visiting U.S. official and the restaurant is clamoring to be paid (see Israeli section).

Israel never fixes what it breaks....­Israel breaks it and the U.S. is forced to fix it. Israel is a nation that has been mooching off the U.S. taxpayers for years.

It's about time that Israel picks up the tab!!!

[Scruffyboo2]

EVERY SINGLE PENNY OF WHAT MONEY THE U. S. GIVES TO GAZA RECONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF FUNDS WE WASTE GIVING ISRAEL AID TO CAUSE THE DESTRUCTION AND COMMIT THE WAR CRIMES (WHITE PHOSPHORUS SHELLS) THAT THEY DO. WE HAVE NO FRIEND IN ISRAEL.

[BubbaC33]

Israel has committed no war crimes, especially during the recent incursion into Gaza. Accusations of war crimes never mention what or how we committed such a crime. The use of WP is not a war crime.

[ndnndpendent]

collective punishment is against international law, i think that would qualify as a war crime.

[mark67nyc]

Another great move by Obama.

Gaza was obliterated during Israel's latest exercise in madness...­. this aid package, assuming it gets approval, will help the battered Palestinians.

I just hope Obama will continue to show a human face to this protracted crisis, and not be sidelined by all the usual spin-meisters (ADL, AIPAC, etc.).

I love Obama!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!

[nochaos]

You mean the spinmeisters posting here...lik­e you??? Hopefully this money to aid terrorists never gets through!!

[mark67nyc]

I have no power, unlike the aforementioned groups. I do, however, have a conscience.

[BubbaC33]

The Israeli incursion into Gaza came as a result of rockets fired into Israel by Hamas. IN other words, the ruling government of Gaza attacked Israel and should have known such an attack would bring about a response. Israel was well within its rights to invade Gaza to stop the firing of rockets.

[ndnndpendent]

Its time for the Palestinians to reject U.S. aid----they have fared and survived IN SPITE of U.S. arming of Israel.

They can survive without it---they ought to say thanks but no thanks. The U.S. even refuses to recognize Hamas, their sovereign right to exist. Slap Clinton in the face and reject the aid.

To he l l with Obama, he didn't even speak up when 1300 Gazans lost their lives in January. The Palestinians need to reject American aid, make AIPAC happy. America is not an honest broker anyway, why take American money?

[beebst]

i support aid for gaza, but how about we go to the source of the problem so we don't have to keep rebuilding what israel doen't need to destroy

[nochaos]

Yeah..when will the Arabs illegally occupying Israeli-won lands...th­e "root" of the problem...­.be leaving??

[ndnndpendent]

All Israel is doing is shining the hot light of inquiry on the whole concept of colonialism. It is colonialism at its ugliest and most base.

In that respect, Israel is doing a magnificent job. This is a good thing for humanity, because it forces us to look at Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Sudan---in a new light.

Colonialism is a cancer on humanity and the sooner it is gone, the sooner people can live in peace.

[Joeycascio]

This money should be deducted from the $3 billion in aid we give Israel. Or better yet lets save the $3 billion given to Israel for Americans in need and require Israel to pay to rebuild Gaza. Why should we have to pay to rebuild the schools and homes destroyed by Israel's military?!!

[beebst]

AGREE!

[BubbaC33]

ccording to your thinking Israel was wrong to send the IDF into Gaza in an attempt to stop the rockets attacks on Israel. The IDF have the duty and an obligation to protect the people of Israel and rocket attacks are a danger to Israeli citizens, Arab and Jeew.

[easarsfield]

wonderful. let's spend $900 million rebuilding Gaza for Hamas so that they will incited Israel to destroy it all over again.

Sounds absolutely brilliant. We ought to be using this money here at home right now.

[longtimegone]

Now the Palestinians are the wife who keeps "asking for it" and forces you to beat her when, of course, you'd rather not. This kind of off the cuff rhetoric is right out of the 19thC campaign to exterminate the aboriginal inhabitants of North America. Initially, the public needs to be softened up, herded toward the conclusion that "they aren't even human beings" or "they don't build or produce like us", so the Other is degraded, stripped of their humanity until their extermination is a moral imperative. Every settler dying at "Injun" hands was trumpeted in the press until you would have thought that white civilization was actually imperiled. Don't you imagine that after decades of this kind of sophisticated and subtle campaign against your very existence, while accusing you of denying their right to exist, you too would get a little crazy? When you seize a people's land, their continued existence is a reminder that you have no pretense to morality; their existence de-legitimizes your social project, thus they must be dehumanized and exterminated.

[ndnndpendent]

I agree. America's policy is dehumanizing. We are just putting it in a pant suit and sending it to a conference in Egypt thinking the world is going to be fooled.

[skialethia]

Why does the U.S. have to fix what Israel breaks? When is Israel going to be held accountable for all the death, destruction and land grab?

Stop funding Israel first and foremost! Or give the money destined for Israel to the Palestinian Territories since Israel is avoiding justice and reparation.

[thruthseeker]

Over 100 billion were given to the west bank and Gaza
and all they have to show for it is some belts and fireworks.
At least the Israelis make a good use of the money given to them..
They invent the cell phone and Instant messaging.
Biggest users of solar power in the world
85% of waste recycled.
leading innovators in green technology.
Best pilots in the world
Gorgeous women

[almazza98]

Over 100 Billion Dollars, where did you get that figure from? You must be thinking of Israel.

[almazza98]

gorgeous women? I think there are gorgeous women everywhere including Palestinians, not exclusive to Israel. What does that have to do with aid?

[Sentientbeing09]

If Israel is so gosh darn awesome, productive and inventive why dont they show some real self-pride and worth by returning the 3 Billion dollars aid every year given to them by US taxpayers?

Its easy to boast when youre living for free on handouts and your whole economy is underwritten by America.

[nochaos]

The justice will be when the illegal occupiers of Israeli-WON lands...th­e Arabs...ge­t off it!!!

[almazza98]

You are hillarious­.... Thanks for the laugh...

[ndnndpendent]

That kind of rhetoric is just inflammatory. Most of humanity wants a solution.

[Londoncall]

So easersfield, Israel have no choice in the matter - they are somehow compelled to wreak death and destruction on children? Perhaps if they were presented with a very large bill for the consequences of their actions, they might think again in future.

I do hope that Obama and other leaders can see just how ludicrous it is that they - and by extension, we - keep giving Israel the money and the means to cause havoc, and then keep having to restore the place after their regular psychotic onslaughts.

BBC Newsnight just had a report that the Commonwealth Graves Association is claiming £95,000 in compensation from Israel after it shelled the Gaza War Cemetery. If they can claim compensation, why can't the people of Gaza and everyone else whose property was damaged? (The EU apparently paid for much of the infrastructure they just flattened.­)

[BubbaC33]

Hamas, the ruling party in the Gazan government, attacks Israel despite warnings of a military response. Yet you blame Israel for that response. Any civilians injured by the IDF incursion took place because the cowardly Hamas government fired from civilian locations and then hid among its own civilians, placing them in harm's way. Yet, you attack Israel.