Israel’s foreign minister has put forward a new two-stage plan for Gaza of increasing levels of investment in return for peace.
Yair Lapid announced the “new vision” of security for Israel in a speech at the Institute for Counter-Terrorism Policy of Reichman University in Herzliya on Sunday.
“This is not a proposal for negotiations with Hamas,” he said, adding that “Israel will not award prizes to a terrorist organization” and risk undermining the Palestinian Authority “that works with us on a regular basis”.
Explaining the need to “move toward a multi-year process in Gaza of economy in return for security”, he said the eventual aim is “stability on both sides of the border”.
Lapid outlined a first stage including repairs to Gaza’s electricity system, a new water desalination plant, “significant improvements” to healthcare and the rebuilding of housing and transport infrastructure.
"In exchange, Hamas will commit to long-term quiet," he said. "It won't happen without the support and involvement of our Egyptian partners and without their ability to talk to everyone involved.”
Should the first stage prove successful, the ambitious second stage includes the creation of an artificial island with a port off the coast of Gaza and a transport link to the West Bank.
The plan has yet to become official policy. Mr Lapid said he hopes to present it to the cabinet for their approval.
He said: "There is still work to do, we're still on the drawing board, but if this plan has a chance to succeed and gains widespread support, I'll propose it to the government as the official position."
He said he had shared the plan with the US, Russia and European Union and Israel’s “partners in the Arab world”.
Mr Lapid warned should be the plan be put in place, “any breach by Hamas will stop the process or set it back”.
He said: “If [Hamas leaders] Sinwar and Haniyeh continue to act against Israel, we will know and the international community will know, and mostly the people of Gaza will know, that Hamas refuses to improve life in Gaza because the only thing they care about is killing Jews.”
Hamas has been in power in Gaza since it took over in 2007, two years after Israel’s unilateral withdrawal. The terror group has repeatedly used civilian areas as a base for attacks on Israel despite economic sanctions.
Mr Lapid was speaking in the midst of a recent exchange of fire between Hamas and the IDF. He said: “The policy Israel has pursued up until now hasn’t substantially changed the situation. The closures haven’t stopped the smuggling and production of weapons. Last night, we once again struck Gaza after yet another rocket was fired, and residents ran to their shelters. We need to change direction.”
Soon after Mr Lapid had finished speaking, a rocket was fired from Gaza towards Israel for the third successive night before it was stopped by the Iron Dome anti-missile system.
