Israel will not allow the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip if Hamas continues to use construction materials to build terror attack tunnels, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon told U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon during a meeting in New York on Monday. During their meeting, Ya'alon and Ban discussed the outcome of the recent Operation Protective Edge -- Israel's campaign in Gaza whose goal was to eliminate the threat of terror tunnels and stop the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. The two also discussed the continuing presence of U.N. peacekeepers in volatile areas along Israel's northern border. "We want the residents of Gaza to live in dignity and prosperity, rebuild their homes and return to normal life," Ya'alon said. "But, we are very worried. Just yesterday Hamas representatives said they intend to reconstruct the infiltration tunnels, instead of rebuilding the homes of Gaza's residents." Ya'alon stressed that he was in favor of helping Gaza rehabilitate its economy, but stated that Hamas must not be allowed to rearm. "It's in our interest for the residents of Gaza to improve their economic situation and their lives, but it must be clear that the funds and equipment are not used for terrorism, therefore we are closely monitoring all of the developments," he said. He addressed Ban's concerns over the fact that Israel bombed U.N. facilities in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge, lamenting the use of U.N. facilities for the storage of weapons and the launchers as well as hiding wanted terrorists. Ya'alon explained that the Palestinian Authority was hesitant to assume responsibility over Gaza, despite its repeated assertions that the West Bank and Gaza are one entity. He said that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas habitually opts to advance unilateral steps to delegitimize Israel and to appeal to international institutions against Israel, rather than engaging in direct talks with Israel to resolve the conflict. Ya'alon also met with the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Power on Monday, and voiced his appreciation for Israel's close relationship with the U.S. "We very much appreciate your work and the work of the United States on behalf of the State of Israel in the U.N. in the face of numerous attempts to hurt us. The United States is Israels strategic partner and greatest ally, and we within the Defense Ministry enjoy this very much. The relationship with the U.S. is a founding block in Israel's national security, a true treasure for us, and we cannot allow anything to darken this relationship."
