Free Republic

JTA - The choice for next secretary-general of the United Nations said he wants to be an “honest broker” and a “bridge builder.” Antonio Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, was approved unanimously by the Security Council on Thursday after several straw polls in recent days. The General Assembly, made up of 193 nations, is expected to approve the choice in its vote next week. Until December, Guterres served 10 years as the UN high commissioner for refugees. He said the experience prepared him for his new post. Guterres, 67, told The Associated Press before the closed door Security...

Qatar promised $1 billion in reconstruction aid for Gaza at a donor conference in Cairo on Sunday, topping US and European pledges for the devastated Palestinian terror enclave. "Qatar announces its participation with $1 billion for the reconstruction of Gaza," said Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah, the foreign minister of the gas-rich country. UN chief Ban Ki-moon told the donor conference Sunday that he would visit the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. "I will visit Gaza on Tuesday to listen directly to the people of Gaza," he said, adding he would also visit Israel "shortly." The international community insisted that Hamas's...

In welcoming the long-term ceasefire in Gaza, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced hope on Tuesday that it will set the stage for talks on a final Israeli-Palestinian Authority (PA) peace deal. "The secretary-general remains hopeful that the extended ceasefire will act as a prelude to a political process as the only way of achieving durable peace," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, according to AFP. Ban warned that "a brighter future for Gaza and for Israel depends on a sustainable ceasefire" and that "any violations of the ceasefire would be utterly irresponsible." .....