by Martin Sherman
The port idea is a mistake for several reasons.
Albert Einstein once said, "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."
One cannot help but recall this given the
attempts to resume the debate about the construction of a port for the
Gaza Strip. What makes these initiatives worrying is the identity of
their advocates: past and present IDF officers and even cabinet
ministers.
In the past, this foolish idea focused on
the construction of an artificial island about 1.5 miles from off the
coast of Gaza, designed so it could be cut off from the mainland if
necessary. This would cost billions of dollars and take years to build.
This vision included setting up water desalination plants, power
stations and even an airport – as if such projects had not been built
already solely because of the absence of an artificial island, and as
if their chances of success would be greater if they were built
offshore rather than on Gaza's coast. The island
Recently, a more delusional vision has
surfaced, apparently promoted by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman,
to build a Gaza port on a different island – Cyprus. According to this
idea, Israel would build a dock in Cyprus for its longtime enemy,
which would include "an Israeli monitoring mechanism" geared to prevent
Hamas from exploiting the dock to smuggle weapons into Gaza.
But how would Israel monitor the use of
dual-purpose materials, such as fertilizer (also used to make
explosives), metals (used in rockets) and cement? Even today, under
strict supervision, about 90% of the cement delivered into Gaza is
appropriated by Hamas for non-civilian purposes, such as the
construction of terror tunnels.
The Palestinians have also greatly
expanded the concept of "dual-purpose" to include kites, balloons,
nails, fuel, kitchen knives and cars – all of which have been
converted into means of destruction used against both property and
humans.
Wouldn't the problem worsen if they had a port of their own?
With respect to the previous plan for an
island, what fate would befall Israeli (or international) inspectors
stationed on an isolated, artificial landmass if they were attacked by a
Gazan mob?
Also, what would be considered sufficient
cause to detach the artificial island from the mainland? Would that
decision be left exclusively to Israel's discretion? If so, how would
that diminish Israel's control over the Palestinians in Gaza?
And in the Cyprus version, how would we be
able to prevent military equipment from being smuggled onto a vessel
left unsupervised after it departs Cyprus and begins traveling to
Gaza? If we continue to oversee the voyage, would that not be considered
the "continuation of the occupation"?
What is truly troubling is that one reason
offered in support of the idea is that the proposed Cyprus port would
ease the economic hardship in Gaza and therefore would diminish the
violence against Israel, and also that it would be contingent on the
return of two Israelis and the remains of two IDF soldiers held by
Hamas.
The first argument essentially validates
the false Palestinian narrative that terrorism is the result of the
"occupation" and therefore Israel is responsible for it. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Arab hostility towards Israel is the
cause of the Palestinians' distress, not its outcome. If they want to
improve their situation in Gaza, all they have to do is to stop trying
to murder Jews and allow Israeli entrepreneurship and creativity to
help Gaza prosper.
The second argument essentially fuels
Palestinian extortion. If holding bodies and live captives gets the
Palestinian a port, why wouldn’t they see it as a clear invitation to
continue with this policy?
What is really absurd is that Gaza already
has a port: Ashdod, which is closer to Gaza than to most other Israeli
cities. The Ashdod port can easily meet all of Gaza's needs. Besides,
in the event of war, does anyone really want the Palestinians to have
access to a port?
Martin Sherman is the founder and CEO of the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies.
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/the-folly-of-the-gaza-port-plan/
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