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