Security Cabinet Makes No Decisions on Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

Apparently, no concrete proposals came out of the security cabinet meeting on the Gaza humanitarian crisis that was held on Sunday night.

The much-publicized meeting was not followed by any official announcement of new promises of aid or support for the citizenry of Gaza.

The cabinet discussed various projects, such as Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Galant’s idea for an industrial zone. But nothing was voted on or decided.

Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz’s vision of building an artificial island off the Gaza coast that would include a port as well as desalination and power plants was dropped from the meeting’s agenda, due to a running dispute over it with Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The island would serve as an entrepot for Gaza’s exports and imports, under the security control of NATO or another international body. Israel has adamantly opposed opening a harbor or airport in Gaza because of security concerns.

It would cost between $5b. and $10b., and can take an estimated six years to complete.

Liberman remains against the idea, on security grounds. It would be an invitation to Hamas and Islamic Jihad to smuggle in weapons. Only in the event of the demilitarization of Gaza could such a project be contemplated, according to Liberman.