The Cost of War

Forgetting for a moment all of the life lost, Palestinian surveyors turned for a moment to the amount of infrastructure destroyed since Israel began its assault on Gaza. Their determination: $1.4 billion worth of buildings, roads, pipes, and power lines have been demolished. Economists are estimate that rebuilding will take five years or more, with Arab and western countries footing the bill. With this price tag in mind, Europe’s top four fundraisers for Palestinians are meeting in Paris to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction. One fear: donors will have a hard time contributing aid as the global economy continues to flounder.