Israel will seek help from countries such as the United Arab Emirates to rebuild Gaza once the conflict with Hamas ends, but the effort could face resistance from regional powers unless there is a breakthrough in establishing a Palestinian state. be.
US President Joe Biden has said negotiators are on track to halt fighting between Israel and Hamas and that a ceasefire could begin as early as next week.
Yellen urges Israel to end restrictions that harm West Bank economy
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ease restrictions on the West Bank that she believes will harm both Palestinians and Israelis.
“I have written to the Prime Minister to discuss my concerns about the West Bank and Israeli actions that I believe are severely damaging the West Bank's economy, reducing revenues, and at the same time negatively impacting Israel. Yellen said at a press conference in Sao Paulo.
The Treasury Secretary said Israel's decision to block West Bank residents with work permits from entering Israel harms not only Palestinians but also Israeli businesses that rely on that source of labor. Ta. She also said she was concerned about barriers to movement within the West Bank that would ultimately limit commercial activity in the area.
In prepared remarks at the beginning of a news conference, Yellen said she called on Netanyahu to restore work permits for Palestinians and reduce barriers to trade within the West Bank.
Yellen spoke at the opening of the Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers meeting held in Brazil.
Israel looks to Middle East neighbors to help rebuild Gaza
Israel will seek help from countries such as the United Arab Emirates to rebuild Gaza once the conflict with Hamas ends, but the effort could face resistance from regional powers unless there is a breakthrough in establishing a Palestinian state. be.
“Right now we are focused on winning the war,” Israeli Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nir Barkat said in an interview with Bloomberg in Abu Dhabi. Once that's done, “I'll be in touch with friends all over the world.”
Asked whether Israel would reach out to the United Arab Emirates to help fund reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip, Barkat said it was on a list of neighboring countries in the region that could possibly be asked for help. He said that it would be possible.
He was in the country, of which Abu Dhabi is the capital, for the World Trade Organization. meeting.
Gulf officials, including Qatar's prime minister, have previously said there is no need for financial aid to rebuild Gaza. conditional On progress toward a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis.
Israel and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 2020 based on the so-called Abraham Accords. Since then, the UAE's position has revolved around maintaining dialogue with Israelis while defending Palestinian rights.
Iranian-backed Hamas, listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, fled Gaza on October 7 and went on a rampage in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others.
Israeli retaliatory strikes have killed nearly 30,000 people in the Gaza Strip, health officials in the Hamas-run region say, and intense international pressure on Israel to halt fighting or at least reduce its intensity. is on.
The war has also caused economic devastation in Gaza, and the World Bank estimate Gross domestic product contracted by more than 80% in the fourth quarter.
The next major phase of the operation could see Israel send ground forces to the southern Gaza city of Rafah. More than 1 million civilians there have sought refuge from the conflict.
The attack on Rafah “must happen,” Barkat said. “Hamas must surrender.”
Biden predicts Gaza ceasefire 'by next Monday'
US President Joe Biden has said negotiators are on track to halt fighting between Israel and Hamas and that a ceasefire could begin as early as next week.
“My national security adviser says it's getting closer, it's getting closer,” Biden told reporters in New York on Monday when asked when he thought a ceasefire would begin. “It's not over yet. My hope is that there will be a ceasefire by next Monday.”
Discussions have raged in recent days that Israel would agree to suspend the war in Gaza in exchange for the release of more hostages held by Hamas. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that representatives from Israel, the US, Egypt and Qatar had agreed on the “broad outlines” of the deal.
Israel's Barkat said in an interview with Bloomberg in Abu Dhabi on Monday, ahead of Biden's speech, that the attack on Rafah “must happen.” “It's not a question of whether we should do it or not. We have to surrender Hamas. They are evil.”
Barkat said it was unclear whether a ceasefire would be reached before Ramadan. But he said Hamas must work to free all hostages.
“I'm part of a government that advocates 'all or nothing,'” he said. “It may be in stages, but we need to talk about how we can get everyone home. This 'get it together now and talk later' approach is unacceptable.” DM