A senior official in the World Bank revealed that the international financial organization would focus on developing economy and jobless reduction in the Gaza Strip after Israeli pullout, the Palestinian daily of al-Quds reported Saturday.

Nigel Roberts, the representative of the World Bank in the West Bank and Gaza, told reporters that the World Bank was invited by Israel and the Palestinians to discuss only technical issues relating to passages and terminals.

"The World Bank will focus on developing Gaza Strip potential economy as well as on the bilateral economic relationship between Israel and the Palestinians," added Roberts.

Within the coming few weeks, Israel would hand over the 360-square-kilometer Gaza Strip home to 1.4 million Palestinians to the Palestinian Authority after evacuating 21 Jewish settlements covering one third of Gaza area.

But Israel has claimed to keep control of Gaza's border crossings, airport and coastline, which would have a negative impact on the economy and aggravate unemployment.

Roberts revealed that following the end of the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, there will be temporary convoys guarded by Israeli security forces between Gaza and the West Bank.

The World Bank and the U.S. are trying to help find a permanent link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, he said.

Gaza economy would flourish as long as the Palestinians are allowed free access to its own airport and seaport, and border crossings with Egypt and Israel, as well as the link between Gaza and West Bank, said Roberts.

Source: Xinhua