Investment Benefits In Gaza
Jawad El Anani Al-Hayat - 26/08/05//
The World Bank is interested in Gaza stability and considers the Israeli pullout therefrom a chance to promote welfare and reinforce peace prospects. In a report entitled “Disengagement” issued last June, the Bank asserted that disengagement will not affect the Palestinian economy at all, unless there is a lifting of the ban on exports from Gaza to Israel and the rest of the world. The report called on the Israeli authorities to open the crossing points and facilitate cross-border transit of people and commodities.
Another report published by the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information, which was reported by the United Press International (UPI) on 18/6/2005, asserted that the implementation of “Paris Protocol” signed between the Palestinian authority and Israel, entitling the goods coming from Gaza to enter the West Bank, as long as the Israeli customs tax is levied in Gaza, is the basic condition to ensure the required economic turn in Gaza. The Middle East Online website published that Israel doesn’t want to control Gaza, but contemplates investing millions of dollars there, on border crossing points, to help reviving employment and investment in Palestine. Shimon Peres is personally following up on this matter to make sure that “Erez” area will be expanded, and that security measures and the required electronic inspection tools will be reinforced in order to facilitate transit between Gaza and Israel.
In a letter sent to the American President, the US Jews affirmed that the success of the crossing points requires the building of railways, which is sought after by Israel, while the Palestinians want to build land roads, which can be used to link water and gas and other fundamental utilities. Whatever the solution is, the US Jews assert the need for dealing with six principal issues so that the crossing points policy can achieve success and fulfill its objectives. The first request is to agree on a third party to ensure the safety of the harbor and airport in Gaza and that weapons are not infiltrated through them to the Palestinian side. The second one is to ensure the outflow of commodities between the West Bank and Gaza through the two crossing points “Erez” and “Karni” without many restraints or numerous Israeli inspection stations. Thus, the US Jews are proposing to develop a “trade crossing point” between Gaza and the West Bank according to a specific methodology that does not threaten Israel’s security.
As for the third issue, it represents the need to deal with waste and poisonous debris, which will result from the destruction of the settlements and buildings. These poisonous materials should be disposed of in a proper way. As for the infrastructure in the settlements, such as roads and other services, they should be maintained without destruction to be used by the Palestinians.
The fourth point is the preservation of greenhouses in Gaza. Peres succeeded in finding a solution to maintain these greenhouses while giving Palestinians indemnities in return, whereby they can be an economic starting point in Gaza.
The last two points are the strive to make arrangements to protect the Israeli soldiers during the execution of the pullout, and to compensate Israel for the cost of the pullout, which is estimated at 2.2 billion dollars to be paid to Israel on a four-year installments plan by American tax payers.
Dennis Ross wrote on this same subject in a newsletter issued by Washington College in mid July, asserting that the pullout represents a historical opportunity for the Palestinians to prove to the world that they are capable to run their own internal affairs, and that they deserve the State of their dreams. There are many writings that confirm the PA’s need to reorganize its affairs in Gaza in order to fight corruption and convey more transparency to the regime.
In light of the unending flow of studies on the economic future of Gaza, certain basic facts arise:
Firstly, Israel wants Gaza Strip to remain a cheap source of employment and to gradually turn into an economy that can accommodate a million refugees, out of the displaced Palestinians since 1948, which constitute at least ¾ of its inhabitants.
Secondly, Gaza Strip will witness, if safety remains steady, a major boom in land prices, especially those close to the coast. If the seaport is opened and its performance is improved, and if the airport is built and becomes ready to welcome travelers. Gaza Strip, although a narrow area stretching roughly over 400 sq.km, will turn into a stand-in economy for the region like Dubai in the Gulf, Singapore in Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong in South China.
Thirdly, what is the Arab role in everything happening? Will the Arabs wait until Israel determines, as partner of the Palestinian authority, the whole fate of Gaza Strip, and the development of its mechanisms and economic and social structures? We didn’t hear a single Arab initiative except for the safe participation on Gaza’s borders with Egypt, from the Egyptian side, and the UAE’s intention to aid in the building of residences there. We also heard of Jordan’s role in training and setting up the civil and security human resources. Gaza will not remain the same but shall witness a major development. Gazans are known for their skills in economy and business, as well as in technical and managerial excellence. They are able to turn Gaza into a blessed land, not doomed as the Jewish propaganda publications claim.
Will Gaza remain dependent on Israel, or does it have a chance to take off with its capabilities, experiences, and openness to the air and sea towards a wider and more liberal world? This is the main question, which explains the deliberate Israeli generosity towards it.
*Mr. Jawad El Anani is an economic consultant in “Al Basira Consultant”.
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