Wolfensohn advises Palestinians to use settlement rubble

The quartet committee's envoy for an Israeli withdrawal James Wolfensohn on Saturday advised the Palestinians to use rubble of Jewish settlements to be evacuated.

Wolfensohn made the suggestion at a joint news conference with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas after a two-hour meeting in Gaza.

"The cement and the bricks can be reused in Gaza. This is not something that hurts Gaza or the private sector," said Wolfensohn, former World Bank chief.

The quartet committee groups the United States, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union.

In an interview last month, Abbas said the Palestinians were willing to cooperate with Israel over the demolition of houses in settlements.

He said if Israel decides to get rid of the houses, the Palestinians are ready to cooperate on the removal of the rubble and to use the rubble in the future, whether it is for port construction or in other ways.

Israel announced that it would demolish approximately 2,500 settlement structures in the Gaza Strip after its evacuation of the area slated for mid-August.

During Saturday's meeting, Abbas and Wolfensohn discussed in details Palestinians' preparations for the coming pullout from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

On the economic issue, Wolfensohn said hope and economic opportunity for the Palestinians are really the key to peace and security for the Israelis.

Abbas said the Palestinian side will fully cooperate and coordinate with Wolfensohn.

"There are two major issues -- coordination between us and the Israelis to guarantee a peaceful withdrawal and projects that will be implemented after the withdrawal," he said.

Source: Xinhua