Palestinians seek $3.8 billion of aid for Gaza • NEW YORK — Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said Tuesday he has asked for $3.8 billion of urgent aid to help rebuild Gaza after its devastating 50-day war with Israel this summer. Hamdallah spoke at the end of a donor meeting led by Norway on the sidelines of a gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.
The aid request comes as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is preparing to submit a resolution to the U.N. Security Council seeking a three-year timetable for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the West Bank.
Palestinian officials said the resolution will be handed in immediately after Abbas speaks at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday.
Israel shoots down Syrian warplane • JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said it shot down a Syrian fighter jet Tuesday after the aircraft strayed less than a mile into airspace that Israel controls over the Golan Heights.
The Syrian government made no official condemnation. The Syrian crew safely ejected. Military experts in Israel said it was the first time in nearly 30 years that Israel downed a Syrian attack aircraft. Denver Post wire services
