Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday promised a transparent and responsible use of funds pledged at a do**r's conference to help Gaza rebuild after this summer's devastating war between Israel and Hamas. Speaking at the one-day gathering in Cairo, Western-backed Abbas said $4 billion was needed to reconstruct the coastal strip after the 50-day war that ended on Aug. 27. Participants were expected to pledge hundreds of millions of dollars, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry an**unced immediate U.S. assistance of $212 million as the conference began.