Blogging from gaza

Interesting to read inside stories. Here is the blog of Laila El-Haddad, a journalist and mother, living in between the US and Gaza.

http://a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com/

Heba's blog, which I found reading that of Laila

http://www.contemplating-from-gaza.blogspot.com/

Gaza's 2 billion pounds of natural gas

Twenty miles from the beach of Gaza there is a reserve of 2 billion worth of natural gas, according to estimates. So enough to generate revenues for the Palestinians and not rely on international aid. Yet the plan to develop the gas marine field was blocked by Ariel Sharon during the second Intifada. Ariel Sharon said that there was no way he would allow a project to grow that would earn money for Yasser Arafat. With Sharon in coma, and the intifada sort of ended, there has been a plan for Israel to become the purchaser, in what the journalist sees as a win-win situation (secure source of gas for Israel/secure revenues for Palestine). Yet no agreement is in sight in spite of public statement by Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, in support of the project, leaving Palestinians dependent on international aid.

The journalist concludes that: "If Mr Blair is serious about his mission to help develop a sustainable Palestinian economy, he could put his weight behind getting the Gaza gas project off the ground. So far, he has set his sights a bit lower, talking publicly only about redeveloping a sewage plant in Gaza and cautiously dodging attempts to involve him with Gaza Marine."

Tim Butcher in the Dayly Telegraph - British Newspaper - 07/11/2007

Israel Navy harassing and humiliating Gaza fishermen

in the Ha'aretz, Israeli newspaper, on 26 February 2007, so a few months ago, but still an interesting article.

"An Israeli human rights group has charged that the Israel Navy is harassing and humiliating Gaza fishermen, who said they cannot make a living because of restrictions."

"Musalam Abu Shalouf, 32, said he was taken in January after trying to retrieve a fishing net about two kilometers (one mile) from the shore. An Israel Navy boat approached and fired bullets in his direction. He was then told to strip to his underwear and swim toward the boat - but it kept moving away."I swam for about 20 minutes. I was then handcuffed and blindfolded," Abu Shalouf said."

"Before Israeli-Palestinian fighting broke out in 2000, fishing accounted for almost 7 percent of agricultural output," said Tarek Saker, director general of fisheries at the Palestinian Agriculture Ministry. "But in 2006, Palestinian fishermen caught half as much as they did in 1999 - largely due to Israeli restrictions on fishing.""It is endangering their life and certainly their health, and it's also very humiliating and threatening," said Sarit Michaeli, a B'Tselem spokeswoman"