AlQa'dah 12, 1435, Sep 7, 2014, SPA -- Commissioner General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency Pierre Krahenbuhl said, during the Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo, that Israel should stand accountable for committing violations against Palestinian civilians. During a speech to the Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo, he said Palestinians are not merely numbers as repeatedly claimed by Israel, and are rather men, women and children who have hopes and aspirations as all people across the globe. According to WAFA, Krahenbuhl added that time has come for things to change in Gaza and the West Bank and to solve the issues behind the conflict, as well as to have free commerce, labor, and movement. He appealed for an urgent assistance of $47 million, adding that long-term reconstruction of the coastal enclave should be addressed and that it is connected to negotiations of the entry of goods and construction materials into Gaza. Krahenbuhl said urgent financial support is needed to fix minor damages, i.e. doors and windows of thousands of partially damaged houses before the start of winter, and to provide house rental fees for displaced Palestinians whose houses were completely destroyed, adding that the UNRWA's budget deficit currently stands at US$ 50 million. Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Nabil al-Arabi, said that the Palestinian issue remains a central one at the entire Arab level. He added that despite the league's failure to implement the international legitimacy resolutions targeting the end of occupation, the league is still acting to defend the Palestinian issue. He underscored the importance for a united Palestinian position in the way towards the end of the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine based on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital. Al-Arabi condemned the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza and praised the Egyptian ceasefire initiative.
