Gaza reconstruction conference attendees heralded the need for opening border crossings and an end to any aggression on the Strip. Moreover, attendees called for immediate Palestinian reconcilliation between Fatah and Hamas, although the two groups did not reach any conlcusive agreements following a conference last week in Cairo attempting to bring them together.
After leaving the conference, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Israel and met with a slew of Israeli officials, including President Shimon Peres, Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Her remarks generally expressed solidarity with Israel, heralded the recent elections, and mentioned the two nations’ “shared values.” She also stressed the need for a two-state solution, potentially putting her at odds with a potential right-wing Netanyahu government.
PA Chairman Mahmud Abbas called for a tougher U.S. posture towards Israel that would include mandating a two-state solution and a freeze on settlement expansion in the territories.