Israeli minister proposes Gaza artificial island

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Israeli minister proposes Gaza artificial island

By Heller | Reuters – Wed, 30 Mar, 2011 7:16 AM EDT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - 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 on 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-km (3-mile)-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 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. "

Israel and neighboring Egypt tightened their blockade of Gaza after Hamas

Islamists opposed to peace with the Jewish state seized control of the territory

in 2007 from forces loyal to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel eased restrictions on the overland passage of goods through its Gaza

border in the wake of a world outcry over the killing of nine pro-Palestinian

Turks in confrontations during a raid by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound

flotilla last May.

Citing security concerns, Israel does not allow a sea or air port to operate in

the enclave.

" 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's 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, without giving further

details.

The proposal was leaked on 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.

Palestinians have refused to return to U.S.-brokered negotiations, which froze

soon after they began in September, until Netanyahu halts settlement building in

East Jerusalem and the West Bank, areas Israel captured in a 1967 war.

Asked when the island proposal would be presented to Netanyahu's cabinet, Katz

was non-committal, saying: " Soon, I hope. "

(Additional reporting by Mohammad Assadi in Ramallah; editing by Mark Trevelyan)