Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US National Security Advisor James Jones in Jerusalem Wednesday. Officials in the Prime Minster's Office said after the meeting that the US and Israel were "working together to jumpstart regional processes."
Netanyahu told Jones that the Gaza Strip border crossings will remain closed as long as Gilad Shalit is held captive there. Officials at the PM's office stressed that the decision
to allow cement and other materials into Gaza was merely a humanitarian gesture.
Netanyahu and Jones met privately following a meeting of the Israeli and American teams. The two discussed the Iranian nuclear program, Israel's relations with the Palestinians and other strategic issues.
The prime minister's staff said the meeting was "productive."
Earlier Wednesday it was reported that the government has recently authorized a monthly transfer of NIS 104 million (roughly $27.33 million) to the Gaza Strip – half of which to be used to pay the Palestinian Authority's workers' wages and the other to pay UNRWA workers wages, Ynet learned Wednesday.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have also authorized cement shipments to the Strip, for the first time since Operation Cast Lead.
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