JERUSALEM: Israel has rejected two offers from Qatar to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen an Israeli trade office in the Gulf state, Haaretz newspaper reported Tuesday.
The overtures were rejected due to a demand from the Qataris that they be allowed to carry out massive reconstruction in the besieged Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, the paper said, quoting an unnamed senior Israeli official.
Qatar severed ties with the Jewish state and shut the trade office in Doha to protest Israel’s fierce 22-day assault on Gaza that began in December 2008 to end militant rocket attacks.
Some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed in the fighting. Since the end of the conflict Israel and Egypt have maintained a strict blockade of the Strip, allowing in only humanitarian aid.
Haaretz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman initially welcomed the move but ultimately baulked at allowing the import of large quantities of cement and building materials into Gaza.
Israel feared the material would be used "to build bunkers and reinforced positions for missiles," Haaretz quoted the official as saying.
Israeli officials were not immediately available for comment.
Israel has agreed in the past to let Qatar and France reconstruct the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City which was destroyed in the war.
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