On the future - Zvi Bar'el in Haaretz:
‘When Hulileh was asked in an interview on the UAE television station Al-Mashhad about the cost of rebuilding Gaza, he mentioned that in February, the World Bank had estimated the reconstruction costs at $53 billion – "but since then, the Strip has suffered major destruction caused by Israel, and it appears that the real amount is about $60 billion."
Hulileh, who isn't deterred by such a sum, noted that the World Bank based its estimate on costs that are customary in the West, whereas the costs in Gaza would be expected to be substantially lower, mainly due to the lower cost of labor. When asked how long reconstruction would take, he cited an example from Egypt, which managed to build entire cities in three to five years. As he sees it, the reconstruction of Gaza is the most relevant and most practical question that there is.’
(…)
‘Al-Hayya stated publicly that the goal of the meeting was to draft terms for a permanent cease-fire, that is, to end the war and to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza. According to Egyptian sources, the goal is more ambitious, and includes discussion of a 'broad" plan that would include disarming Hamas and handing its weapons to the PA, establishing a temporary six-month management body to replace Hamas in the Gaza Strip and launching operations to restore civilian infrastructure.
This is not a new plan. In March, Egypt presented a document detailing the steps of this plan, which was quickly put together to thwart the threat of mass transfers and U.S. President Donald Trump's vision for a Gazan "Riviera." Since then, in the face of strong Arab and international opposition to the initiative, Trump has "agreed" to hear other ideas.’
(…)
‘Trump has, for the time being, committed to the Israeli position, which opposes the PA's participation in the administration of Gaza. At the same time, Abbas is insistent that only the PA should be the source of authority for any agreement on Gaza's future.
However, a senior official in Abbas' Fatah party, who was previously involved in Egyptian-mediated reconciliation talks between the PLO and Hamas, maintains that Abbas isn't left with many other options.
"We have two options," the senior Fatah official told Haaretz. "Adopting the Egyptian plan, even if the PA's role in it is minimal, or opposing it and being the ones who pave the way for Israel to occupy the Strip. That is a worthy national position, but it's also the approach that would lead to disengagement from Gaza."’
Read the article here.
60 billion dollars to rebuild. Peanuts.
The problem is that Israel, with the help of some obstinate Palestinians, will do everything to undo the rebuilding.
There are no signs that after Netanyahu a true enlightened leader will be elected in Israel.
But who knows, maybe Trump is willing, in between flattering Putin, to pressure Bibi to end the war that now has only purpose, to prolong the political life of Bibi.