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James Wolfensohn and Muhammad Dahlan (AP)
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| By Associated Press July 30, 2005 |
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International Mideast envoy James Wolfensohn, former head of the World Bank, said Saturday that an agreement on the fate of the rubble from settler homes in Gaza to be evacuated next month is expected within days.
Speaking to reporters before a meeting with Palestinian officials, Wolfensohn said the rubble from homes set to be demolished during Israel's planned withdrawal from the Strip in mid-August can be used in future housing projects by the Palestinians.
"Much of the rubble, the cement and the bricks, can be reused in Gaza. It's not something that hurts Gaza or the private sector. It's something that's an opportunity for the Palestinians," Wolfensohn said.
Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian cabinet minister in charge of coordinating Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, said the Palestinians are willing to assist Israel in removing the rubble, but will not allow any of it to be buried in their land.
"We are looking into how to make use of this rubble. If there is a use for some it, we will use it, and if there is no use for it, we will get rid of it, remove it from the Gaza Strip. The important thing is for it not to remain or be buried in Palestinian lands," Dahlan said after talks with Wolfensohn.
Israel's Gaza withdrawal is set to begin in less than three weeks, yet almost every major issue regarding the future of the territory remains undecided.
The future of the border between Gaza and Egypt and who will run the volatile crossing remains unresolved, as does the fate of the hundreds of settler owned greenhouses, that if maintained, could provide an important economic boost to the impoverished and densely populated Strip.
But according to Wolfensohn, Palestinian and Israeli coordination on the withdrawal is improving.
"I do honestly believe...that the last two months gives us an increasing atmosphere of hope and practically, you're getting a better exchange of information, you're getting technical committees working together, you're having open discussions on the tough issues," said Wolfensohn.
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