A fund initially worth $200 million has been created by the Palestinian Investment Fund for the re-construction of the Gaza Strip. PIV head Mohammad Mustafa told reporters in Ramallah that he hopes to raise an additional $800 million from private investors and that the money raised will be earmarked for housing, transportation and energy projects. Mustafa, who has headed the fund for five years, is an adviser to Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas and is seen as a possible successor to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad when the new unity government is formed or as a candidate for the post when elections are held a year from now.