Whether the Western governments like it or not, Operation Swords of Iron will only end when the Israeli evacuees from the North and South feel safe to return to their homes. There are about 250,000 such evacuees. How can peace realistically be achieved?
Who will administer it?
The Prime Minister’s Office announced: “In the framework of the existing efforts between the State of Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority (PA), with emphasis on Palestinian economic development and maintaining security stability in the region, it has been decided to develop the Gaza Marine gas field off the coast of Gaza. Israel seeks to maintain the security and diplomatic interests of the State of Israel on the matter.
The trustees would be tasked with overseeing the development and exploitation of the Gaza gas and applying its proceeds. Most important, they would control the escrow bank account needed to invest in the gas field, receive gas sale proceeds, pay salaries to ordinary Gazan gas workers, and invest in Gazan welfare projects. The trustees would produce detailed and audited financial statements confirming this. Hamas would be bypassed – with no access to the all-important escrow bank account controlled by the technocrat trustees.
leon@hcat.co