By Arian Mojaddidi

EVERGREEN STORY
PALESTINE
nytimes
The conflict in Palestine recently reached a potentially new turning point. A
temporary agreement is reached between Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and
United Nations allowing Gaza to import materials for rebuilding after they were
bombed by Israelis. Diplomat, Robert Serry, told the council that he hoped the
deal would lead to a broader agreement on opening border crossings to Gaza
and on ending severe restrictions on imports to Palestinian territory. The
Palestinian Authority will have a lead role in the reconstruction effort, while the
United Nations insures that reconstruction materials are not diverted from their
entirely civilian purpose, Mr. Serry said. Mr. Serry spoke three weeks after a
truce reached in Cairo that halted intense fighting between Israel and Hamas
militants. More than 2,100 Palestinians were killed, including 500 children and
250 women. On the Israeli side, 67 soldiers and six civilians were killed, including
one child. The estimated reconstruction cost is about $7 billion.