Preliminary Project Proposal
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Building for Peace:
A Phased Plan for the Economic Development of the Gaza Strip and
the Middle East Region Following Israel’s Disengagement
The pages that follow merit, in my view, both attentive study—and deep and widespread appreciation. Franck de Rouville of the remarkably successful “Pro Natura” group which has promoted Peace Parks to conserve nature by trans-border cooperation, recently pointed out the primacy of the seldom—identified role of the process of consultation. The mere fact that competent people of divergent opinions and backgrounds persist in the search for a consensus that is rigorously fair to all individuals and communities directly concerned, can be a harbinger of practical achievement. With common sense and a minimal dose of that increasingly rare commodity – optimism – could not the Middle East be on the verge of social and economic “take-off”? ...
Introduction: Origins of the Proposal
This preliminary project proposal has been developed through the Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy at Roger Williams University beginning in Fall 2003, through a multi-step process of concept development, research and schematic design, and discussion and review among international leaders and members of the Center that has led to further revisions and development.
Steps in the Project Proposal development process to date have included:
Framing of Working Papers, October 2003-April 2004
Concepts, briefing papers, research and design studies were undertaken by noted international consultants, and through faculty-directed student work at Roger Williams University in the areas of international relations, engineering and management, architecture and planning. The work centered on a paper, “A Plan for the Economic Development of the Gaza Strip”, prepared by Ernst G. Frankel, MIT Professor Emeritus of Ocean Engineering and Management; along with concepts raised by the Center’s Founding Advisor Frank P. Davidson, co-founder of the Channel Tunnel Study Group....
To create sustainable, secure employment and expanded business opportunities for Palestinians, mainly from the Gaza Strip, as well as new housing and improved infrastructure in Gaza, upgraded transportation and communications links within Gaza and between Gaza and the West Bank, and strengthened Palestinian governmental institutions; this by:
- Establishment of a joint “Free Industrial Zone” at the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip;
- Construction of an offshore deepwater seaport and large artificial island – within Palestinian jurisdiction off Rafah and Khan Younis – connected by causeway to the mainland;
- Construction of a secure underground rail link connecting Gaza and the West Bank, designed for the transport of commercial containers headed for the seaport as well as for the secure flow of passengers and messages;
- Strengthening of regional planning and development processes, to promote broad oversight of the project and also to guide implementation of other related projects, including major infrastructure improvements and the development of culturally-sensitive, sustainable housing communities.
The economic condition of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is dire, with a per capita income estimated to have sunk to less than $600/year, with unemployment near 42% and youth unemployment even higher.29 More than 30,000 workers from Gaza have lost their jobs in Israel since 2000, with an additional 4,900 workers with jobs in the Erez Industrial Zone being only intermittently employed—and soon to be mostly out of work due to the planned closure of Erez.30 Average daily wages in Gaza have held steady at about 55 NI Shekels (about $11.62) or only about 75% of those earned in the West Bank and 30% of those earned by Israeli workers. At the same time, consumer prices increased by nearly 6% during the last 2 years, reducing standards of living even further.
The proposed Plan is based on providing long-term, sustainable, secure, desirable employment, and business opportunities for Palestinians, mainly from the Gaza Strip as well as for Egyptians residing in the northern Sinai, by establishing a joint “Free Industrial Zone” at the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, located initially mainly northeast of the site of the former Israeli town of Yamit. Later the zone would be expanded across the border into the Rafah District—and also later, in Phase Two, connected to a free seaport in Palestinian waters. ...
Phased construction of:
(a) A 5-6 Km causeway into the sea to serve as a temporary free port – with ‘Roll On, Roll-Off’
capacity -- serving the Free Industrial Zone and as a construction road for Phase 2b uses; the site
of the causeway to be determined, but tentatively envisioned as extending out from Al Mawasi in
the southern Gaza Strip in either Rafah or Khan Younis ...
Phase III: Construction of a secure underground rail link connecting Gaza and the West Bank
Construction of a tunnel connecting Gaza and the West Bank by secure rail62 – designed for the transport of commercial containers as well as for the secure flow of passengers and messages, including a direct cargo link from West Bank manufacturing and agricultural centers to the newly constructed seaport in Al Mawasi -- with planned links to Northern Gaza, Jordan and Eastwards; potentially, also to Israeli exporters. The tunnel would help make a contiguous Palestinian entity a reality, thereby, significantly contributing to successful Palestinian statehood and the long term resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. 63 A tunnel could also be used to accommodate high-speed communication links between Gaza and the West Bank, consistent with UN Millennium Development Goals. ...
Phase IV: Strengthening of regional planning and development processes
Strengthening of regional planning and development processes, to promote broad oversight of the project and also to guide implementation of other related projects, including major infrastructure improvements and the development of good, sustainable housing. This phase is to be on-going, commencing with the start of Phase One in 2005. ...
Water is a precious commodity in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. About two-thirds of the existing fresh water supply comes from reservoirs in the North. The main underground distribution system is the National Water Carrier that runs from the North to the South providing water to cities and settlements along the way. Supplemental water supply is provided from treated wastewater, brackish water and water harvesting (collection, storage and storm runoff).
The existing water supply is dwindling with estimates by some that Israel will face a major water crisis by 2012. ...
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