Gaza's Hidden Resources

• Published in: Peace magazine Vol. 25; no. 2; p. 6
• Main Author: Guin, Subir
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Peace Magazine 01.04.2009
• Subjects: Military air strikes; Natural gas reserves; Offshore oil exploration & development; Terrorism; Gaza City Gaza Strip; Israel
• ISSN: 0826-9521

Following Arafat's death in November Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah took as president of the Palestinian (PA) , preferred by the Israeli and Washington. Abbas his party could not stand up to without help. The extent of role in its abortive atto back Abbas and oust Hamas is in David Rose's article in Vanity Fair (April, 2008). Contrary to all expectations, Hamas not only won more seats in Palestine's Legislative Council, but took complete control over Gaza, having already earned solid grassroots support from its people. Over the ensuing six and a half years, BG and officials from Israel's Finance and National Infrastructure Ministries tried to reach an agreement to pump the gas into Israel. The talks broke off as neither side could agree on a price. Prior to that, when Hamas took over Gaza following the June 2007 election, it staked its claim on the gas fields, and prepared to commence fresh negotiations with BG. Israel was not willing to allow Hamas any part of this. Moreover, British Gas was forbidden by its government from making any deals with Hamas and the project has since dropped from the public eye. It appears Israel's objective is to break down Hamas to the point where it is no longer capable of attacking Israel, or negotiate a binding cease-fire agreement stipulating assurances from Hamas that it will stop its rocket attacks and cease smuggling weapons into Gaza from Egypt.