Israel has agreed in principle to reimburse losses the United Nations suffered during the Gaza war a year ago, a UN spokesman said today.
Spokesman Martin Nesirky declined to give a figure or other details of the accord.
A UN inquiry last year put the cost of damage to U.N. property in Gaza during the December 2008 - January 2009 conflict at over $11 million, almost all of it caused by Israeli forces.
Another UN official said $10.5 million was "the figure that has been bandied about, but nothing has been finalised."
Israel said it attacked Gaza to end rocket launches by Palestinian Hamas militants into Israel, and that damage to UN premises was caused unintentionally when its troops responded to Palestinian fire. The Jewish state, however, agreed to consider a UN compensation request sent in July.
"Agreement has been reached in principle on the terms of an arrangement under which Israel would make a payment to the United Nations," Mr Nesirky told reporters.
The United Nations is awaiting a "green light" from the Israeli government on the deal and expects it "imminently," he said. "When that green light is given, an agreement will be formalised between the United Nations and Israel and a payment will be made."
Mr Nesirky said the issue had come up during a telephone conversation on Tuesday between UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
UN officials said the compensation related primarily to property since there had been no UN loss of life.
The main damage to UN property in Gaza came on January 15th when Israeli shells, some containing the incendiary substance white phosphorus, hit a compound of the UN Relief and Works Agency, badly damaging a warehouse and training centre. Several UN-run schools were hit in other strikes.
Reuters