Israel's 100 Year Blockade Of Gaza

Israel's Transport Minister Pitches Artificial Island Off Gaza

Yisrael Katz Wants An International Force To Control Planned Site For At Least 100 Years

By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Courtesy Of "The Daily Star"

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel is considering building an artificial island with sea and air ports off blockaded Gaza, as a long-term solution to shipping goods into the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave, the transport minister said.

Yisrael Katz told Army Radio Wednesday he wants an international force to control the island for “at least 100 years” and for unloaded cargo to be brought into Gaza along a 4.5-kilometer-long bridge with a security checkpoint to prevent arms smuggling.

“The Israeli military would continue the naval blockade, but in a more localized way,” he said.

Katz said he had pitched the project to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told him to put together a plan, which “has been under examination for many months” by experts.

A spokesman for the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority described the idea as “pure fantasy” and an attempt by Israel “to divert attention from the real problems of Gaza resulting from the Israeli siege.”

A Hamas spokesman called it “a Zionist effort to … internationalize” the blockade.

“I am at the stage where the prime minister has to give the green light,” Katz said. “This has not happened yet … I am certain the Europeans and the Americans and many private elements will be willing to be part of this.”

Citing security concerns, Israel does not allow a sea port or airport to operate in Gaza.

“An island would … give the Palestinians port services and even an airport down the line,” Katz said, proposing the project include desalination and power plants, hotels … and Hamas’ rival, the Palestinian Authority, as a partner. “We have built models and there are many entrepreneurs who are interested and prepared to invest billions and make money,” he said.

The proposal was leaked Tuesday to Israel’s Channel Two TV, which speculated it could be included in a speech that Israeli officials have said Netanyahu might deliver in the coming weeks outlining ideas to revive peace talks.

Asked when the island proposal would be presented to Netanyahu’s Cabinet, Katz was non-committal, saying: “Soon, I hope.”

Separately, an Israeli airstrike on southern Gaza killed an Islamic Jihad militant and wounded another early Wednesday, Palestinian medical officials said.

The attack targeted two Palestinians on a motorbike near the southern city of Rafah who were en route to pray, said a statement from Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the Al-Quds Brigade.

A second attack hit a cross-border smuggling tunnel in the area, Palestinian security sources said.

The raids came just hours after a rocket landed in southern Israel, causing no casualties, despite a weekend agreement by Gaza militants to curb rocket fire.

An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed an attack on “a group of terrorists” who had fired the rocket into southern Israel Tuesday evening, saying they were en route to fire more.

The Al-Quds Brigades had vowed to respond.

A day earlier militants had agreed to observe a period of calm, effectively calling a halt to 10 days of rocket attacks and Israeli counter strikes.

Despite the tension in and around Gaza, both Israel and Hamas appear reluctant to be dragged into another bloody war confrontation along the lines of the deadly 2008-09 war, which killed more than 1,400 people, the vast majority Palestinians.

That offensive was launched by Israel in order to stamp out persistent rocket fire from Gaza. – Reuters, AFP