Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 15 February 2018

AP: Israeli leader Taliban letter address 'American people,' urges talks

vows to carry on KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — a cost of "trillions of dollars." repeatedly refused, saying right to form a government.

despite charges In a rambling nearly 3,000- The letter was addressed to peace negotiations should "Our preference is to solve
word letter issued Wednes- "the American people, of- be between the Taliban the Afghan issue through
By ARON HELLER day, the Taliban urged the ficials of independent non- and the Afghan govern- peaceful dialogue," the let-
Associated Press "American people" to press governmental organiza- ment. ter said. "America must end
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli their government to with- tions and the peace loving The letter promised a more her occupation and must
Prime Minister Benjamin draw from Afghanistan, Congressmen." inclusive regime, educa- accept all our legitimate
Netanyahu vowed to carry reminding them that the It repeated the Taliban's tion and rights for all, includ- rights, including the right to
on Wednesday after police Afghan war is the longest longstanding offer of di- ing women. However, it form a government consis-
recommended indicting conflict in which they have rect talks with Washington, seemed to rule out power- tent with the beliefs of our
him on corruption charges, been embroiled — and at which the United States has sharing, saying they had the people."q
angrily dismissing the alle-
gations and the critics call-
ing on him to step down. $30B pledged in Kuwait at summit to rebuild Iraq
With his coalition partners
dutifully lining up behind "Iraq cannot commence
him, the longtime leader the mission of rebuilding it-
readied himself for a pro- self without support, which
longed battle over his po- is why we are all here today
litical legitimacy as the at- from all around the world,
torney general considers to stand by Iraq's side."
whether to ultimately press Other major donations in-
charges. cluded both Saudi Ara-
The police announcement bia and the Kuwait-based
that Netanyahu's accep- Arab Fund each pledging
tance of nearly $300,000 $1.5 billion. Qatar pledged
in gifts from two billionaires $1 billion in financing and
amounted to bribery sent donations, while Britain
shockwaves through the pledged $1 billion in export
Israeli political system and credits over 10 years.
delivered a humiliating The United Arab Emirates
blow to Netanyahu after pledged $500 million, as did
years of allegations and the Islamic Development
investigations. But it did Bank. The UAE's Minister of
not appear to immediately State for Foreign Affairs An-
threaten his lengthy rule as war Gargash also tweeted
reaction largely fell along there would be $5.5 billion
partisan lines. Nearly all of in private investments from
Netanyahu's Cabinet min- Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir prepares for a donor's summit at Bayan Palace in Kuwait his country home to Dubai
isters issued statements of City, Kuwait, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. Kuwait on Wednesday hosted the final day of a confer- and oil-rich Abu Dhabi,
ence seeking billions of dollars to help rebuild Iraq after the war against the Islamic State group.
support and his coalition (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) without elaborating. The Eu-
partners all signaled they ropean Union also pledged
would stick by him, for now. By JON GAMBRELL and the chaos that fol- though some countries an- 400 million euros ($494 mil-
"Let me reassure you: the KUWAIT CITY (AP) — Inter- lowed the 2003 U.S.-led in- nounced them on the floor lion). The U.S., while not of-
coalition is stable. No one, national donors pledged vasion that toppled dicta- of a meeting held Thurs- fering direct donations, did
not I and no one else, plans $30 billion to help rebuild tor Saddam Hussein. day at Kuwait City's Bayan agree to providing over $3
to go to elections. We will Iraq after the war against Still, much remains un- Palace. The biggest single billion in loans and financ-
continue to work together the Islamic State group, Ku- certain for Iraq and the pledge came from Turkey, ing to American firms want-
with you for the people of wait announced Wednes- greater Middle East. The which announced $5 bil- ing to invest in Iraq. Officials
Israel until the end of our day, overcoming Western Islamic State group, while lion in credit to Iraq, while acknowledged a feeling of
term," he said to a gath- doubts and donor fatigue dislodged from the third of Kuwait's ruling emir said his fatigue from international
ering of local government over Mideast crises to help Iraq it once held, remains oil-rich nation will give $1 donors, especially after
officials in Tel Aviv. "After I the battle-ravaged nation. a threat. Meanwhile, re- billion in loans and $1 billion the wars in Iraq and Syria
read the recommenda- While falling short of an esti- gional tensions could even in direct investments. sparked the biggest mass
tions report, I can say it mated $88.2 billion needed be seen at a conference The donation by Kuwait's migration since World War
is biased, extreme, full of to rebuild Iraq, it easily sur- heralded by United Nations emir, the 88-year-old Sheikh II. Even in Kuwait, some
holes like Swiss cheese and passed the $20 billion Iraqi Secretary-General Antonio Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, questioned donating cash
doesn't hold water." officials initially said they Guterres as an "enormous showed the deep inter- while its own country needs
In an impassioned de- needed to begin their dif- success." est his nation has in mak- investment.Iraq is OPEC’s
fense, Netanyahu took aim ficult work. While much of "Iraq has known too many ing sure Iraq becomes a second-largest crude pro-
at police investigators say- the larger donations came hardships and we hope peaceful, stable country. ducer and home to the
ing their figures were vastly in the form of loans, Iraq re- these hardships are now Iraq also still owes Kuwait world’s fifth-largest known
inflated and tried "to cre- mains an oil-rich nation and behind us," Iraqi Foreign reparations from Saddam's reserves, though It has
ate a false impression of such debts can be forgiven Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari 1990 invasion that sparked struggled to pay interna-
exchanges that never ex- by the countries and institu- said. "Investments are the the 1991 U.S.-led Gulf War. tional firms running them.
isted." tions offering them. only way for us to move for- "This large assembly of inter- That’s even after the U.S.
Though he is not legally The pledges, if followed ward. We must learn from national communities that alone spent $60 billion over
compelled to resign, sever- through with funding, could the past and move for- are here today is reflective nine years — some $15 mil-
al opposition figures called give Iraq a chance to dig ward." of the large loss that Iraq lion a day — to rebuild Iraq
on Netanyahu to do so to itself out of the rubble left Officials offered no break- withstood in facing terror- after overthrowing Sad-
avoid corrupting the office by the Islamic State group down of the pledges, ism," Sheikh Sabah said. dam in 2003.q
further.q