European and Middle Eastern foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels this evening to assess the reconstruction efforts necessary in Gaza.

The 27-nation bloc along with Norway will also discuss with Palestinian, Egyptian, Turkish and Jordanian ministers ways of prolonging the current truce. Talks between Egypt and Hamas are also being held to find ways of strengthening the current fragile ceasefire. In other diplomatic developments, UN Middle East envoy Tony Blair welcomed the arrival next week of the new US administrations own envoy George Mitchell to the region. UN schools reopened in Gaza yesterday, but Sunday saw a demonstration by teachers to protest against Israel’s 22-day military strike. In Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his weekly cabinet meeting that Israel’s military commanders will get state protection against any eventual prosecution for war crimes.More about: Ceasefire, Egyptian

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