Transportation Minister (Likud) Yisrael Katz is proposing a unique solution to end the isolation of Hamas-run Gaza, the construction of an eight sq. km. manmade island that will be connected to Gaza via a 5km. bridge and will serve as its ‘seaport’.

The $5 billion island will include the seaport and possibly down the line, an airport to serve Gaza. While it would be run with the oversight of the international community, Israel would still oversee security.

Katz, who is a close confidant to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, told the foreign press that Israel has no interest in running the lives of Gazans or making their lives harder but Israel must maintain security control to protect her own interests. He explains the Gaza port is not large enough to receive freight ships carrying containers so a new entity must be built in any event. The island seaport would be located in international waters, and he feels this may be the solution towards permitting Gazans to achieve economic independence.

Katz’s plan has not yet been presented to the cabinet and he remains hopeful the security establishment will give its stamp of approval.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)