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Promoting a Coordinated Strategy for the Reconstruction of Gaza Promoting a Coordinated Strategy for the Reconstruction of Gaza Promoting a Coordinated Strategy for the Reconstruction of Gaza Table of Contents Introduction Yair Hirschfeld .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Foreword Dr. Werner Puschra .............................................................................................................................................. 4 .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 This publication was made Glosssary possible through the generous support of the A Brief Timeline of the Gaza Strip ........................................................................................... 8 Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Israel. We thank the FES for The PLO-Hamas Relationship its continued cooperation. A former Palestinian minister ................................................................................................................. 10 We also would like to thank the researchers for their efforts; the World Health Israel and the Gaza Strip – Time to Cut the Gordian Knot Organization for providing essential health information An anonymous expert on Israel’s economic-infrastructural issues about the health situation in with its neighbors .................................................................................................................................................... 20 Gaza; and Dr. Amit Leshem for facilitation. How to Develop Gaza’s Economy The opinions expressed Ephraim Sneh ............................................................................................................................................................... 24 in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Friedrich- Developing a Coherent Strategy for Gaza Ebert-Stiftung and/or of Yair Hirschfeld .............................................................................................................................................................. 26 Netanya Academic College. The commercial use of the publications of Friedrich- Promoting Humanitarian Relief for Gaza Ebert-Stiftung or of Netanya Gaza Rehabilitation and Stabilization: Obstacles and Academic College without Challenges written approval is strictly Celine Touboul ............................................................................................................................................................. 34 prohibited. October, 2015 Access & Movement: An Enduring Obstacle to Gaza’s © All rights reserved Rehabilitation and Development ISBN Number: Dov Sedeka & Anat Kaufmann ........................................................................................................... 48 978-965-92408-2-1 Scientific Editing: Health and Health Services in Gaza Dr. Yair Hirschfeld Miriam J. Hirschfeld ............................................................................................................................................. 58 Translation: Ruchie Avital Copy editing: Elie Friedman, Judith Stelmach About the Authors ............................................................................................................................................. 64 Photography: Imagebank, Thinkstockphotos AP Images 1 Promoting a Coordinated Strategy for the Reconstruction of Gaza Introduction Yair Hirschfeld The S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue at regardless of whatever strategic or political approach would Netanya Academic College in cooperation with the Friedrich be chosen. Ebert Stiftung, is proud to submit the compilation of articles Celine Touboul, who is a deputy director of the Economic which examines the present situation in Gaza. Our work has Cooperation Foundation (Tel Aviv) has for years prepared been encouraged and generously supported by the Friedrich strategic concepts for stabilizing the situation in Gaza. She Ebert Stiftung, Israel office, whose team has participated in was a guest researcher at NATO in Rome. Many of her the process of overseeing and reviewing the articles written. policy papers have influenced the policy planning of the All contributions to this booklet have a common aim in mind: relevant Israeli authorities. Due to her work, the Economic to improve the living conditions of the people of Gaza, Cooperation Foundation was involved behind the scenes prevent another military confrontation and create stability in in supporting the cease-fire negotiations, in 2012 as well the region. Nevertheless, four different strategic approaches as in 2014. Celine Touboul has made five major interrelated are being advocated: recommendations: A former Palestinian minister and leading member of the • First, in order to create a situation of normality and Fatah movement in Gaza, who asked to remain anonymous, stability, there is a need to take action to solve the water has placed the emphasis on reaching at first an internal and energy crisis for all Gaza citizens. There is an urgent reconciliation between the PLO and Hamas, and defining need to prevent further contamination of Gaza's water together an acceptable strategy toward Israel. resources and it is essential to put an end to the daily A senior Israeli civil servant, who has asked to remain hours' long shortages of electricity. Whereas important unnamed, suggests that Israel should permit the establishment medium-term solutions are being prepared, little change of a functioning and stable entity in Gaza, preferably under has been achieved in the immediate and short term. the auspices of the PA, and put a complete end to the siege • Second, there is a need to assist in the reconstruction not only by land, but also by sea. It is argued that this would of completely destroyed neighborhoods. Whereas make it possible for Israel to achieve international recognition over 1,500,000 tons of cement have been imported of the de facto state of "end of occupation" of the Gaza Strip, from Israel and have made it possible to repair partly and make the authority in charge in Gaza fully responsible destroyed homes, a comprehensive operational plan is and accountable for any acts of aggression against Israel. necessary to provide for the reconstruction of destroyed Ephraim Sneh, former Israeli Deputy Minister of Defense neighborhoods. (as well as Minister of Health and Minister of Transport) and • Third, there is a need to introduce action to reduce the Chair of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue extremely high rate of unemployment by easing exports suggests a set of measures for the economic development of and imports of goods, and encouraging private business Gaza to be based largely on private investment. The essential development. precondition for this approach would be an internationally controlled process of DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization • Fourth, there is a need to work closely together with Egypt and Reintegration) of the Hamas military forces. Private to coordinate the suggested policy approach together investment of a multi-billion dollar Marshall Plan will only be with necessary action to prevent the re-arming of the possible if the likelihood of a renewal of armed conflict can Hamas military wing. be dramatically minimized. • Fifth, there is a need to take necessary action to stabilize Dr. Yair Hirschfeld, one of the architects of the Oslo Agreement, the cease-fire, optimally by an agreed commitment of all and Academic Director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for concerned parties. Strategic Dialogue, argues that the reconstruction in Gaza, Brigadier General (ret.) Dov Sedaka served as head of and the promotion of economic development and stability the Israeli Civil Administration in Gaza (and later on the can only be achieved by a fully coordinated and concerted West Bank) and is closely connected to the Israeli security effort of all interested parties, the international community, authorities. Anat Kaufmann is a project director at the Israel, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Saudi Arabia Economic Cooperation Foundation and has worked on and Qatar. issues of trade promotion and access and movement. Their The other three contributions focus on different ways and article deals with the central issues of access and movement, means to improve living conditions in Gaza, and bring about which are key for the economic and social rehabilitation a process of reconstruction, and economic development of the Gaza Strip. In essence, it is shown that Israel has 2 lifted the siege on land, whereas the siege at sea is still The unnamed Israeli senior civil servant who has contributed fully maintained. Movement and access on land is mainly to this booklet has been involved in supporting a coordinated being impeded by bottlenecks in the infrastructure and the regional cooperation effort aiming mainly to obtain Arab creation of necessary security provisions. On land, it would support for the reconstruction effort in Gaza. be essential to expand further the capacity of the Kerem Dr. Yair Hirschfeld has maintained an intimate policy-oriented Shalom Crossing point, create a supportive road network, dialogue with senior international diplomats, who tend and provide the necessary security facilities. The addition to share his approach of creating an international and of a second modern
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