Abbas calls to try Israeli officials as PM unveils Gaza reconstruction plan

Published February 4th, 2009 - 02:41 GMT

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday said that the world acknowledges that what has happened in Gaza is a crime, and those who committed it must be held responsible so it won’t happen again.

 

In a joint press conference with Hans Gert, the President of the European Parliament,  held in Strasbourg, Abbas added, “we reach out our hands in peace, but what happened in Gaza is a real crime.” He also demanded the Europeans to support the Palestinian National Authority.

 

Meanwhile, the government of Abbas announced on Wednesday a $600 million reconstruction programme for Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said the programme would cover all Palestinian houses destroyed or damaged during Israel's 22-day military offensive.

 

"The amount of the project is $600 million. Most of it will come from donors," Fayyad said in a speech in the West Bank city of Ramallah.