More Photos 14 July 2004, PASSIA, Jerusalem Speaker: Prof. Yehoshua Ben–Arie, Geographer, Truman Institute of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem Participant(s): Fadia Daibes, Consultant; Yitzhak Reiter, Truman Institute, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; Albert Aghazarian, Researcher; Lisa Perlman, Truman Institute, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; Suzanne Rutland, Assoc Prof, University of Sydney, Austria; Safa Abu Asab, Program Manager, Diakonia; Fadi Al-Hidmi, Welfare Association; Mustafa Abu Sway, Professor, Al Quds University; Hanlie Booysen,Diplomat, South African Representative Office; Marian Houk; Niall Holohan, Diplomat, Ireland Representative Office, Ramallah; Steve Hibbard, Canadian Representative Office, Ramallah; Mohammed Nuseibeh, Member HigherIslamic Council; Orayb Najjar, Associate Professor-JOUR; Rima Merriman, Tokten Communications; Khalil Assali, Radio Sawa; Jean Jaques Joris, Diplomat, Switzerland, Ramallah; Samia Khoury, Volunteer; Catherine Nicolas, Al Sabeel; Jumana AZ Jaouni, British Counsulate.

Summary & Discussion

SUMMARY OF THE IDEA:

A severe problem in the conflict today is what is taking place in the Gaza Strip. In this 350 sq. km. territory, between 1 and 1.25 million Palestinians live. Before the 1948 war, less than 50,000 lived there. The majority of people (>75%) in the Gaza Strip today are refugees who came from the southern part of what is today Israel .

The conditions that they are living in are hellish and economically disastrous, however the growth rate is tremendous (4-5%). In 2020, 2.5 million people are expected to be there. So the disengagement solution today is unworkable. On the contrary, if Gaza is closed in, the situation would become terrible. Not even the Geneva Initiative addresses this problem (only adds 1-2 sq. km to Gaza ). It is not a problem of housing, but one of economic viability.

So how to solve this problem? Only one way to do this, and that is take 25-30 km of the Sinai coast, where the economic potential is tremendous. This would also add around 500-1000 sq. km. of land that is currently sparsely populated.

In regards to advantages of this land, it is on a coast providing a water source that is easily desalinated. More, there is gas and it adds territorial water. Water rights in this day extend deep to the ocean, thus allowing a large deep-sea port to be available. It triples the area of Gaza , which is so situated that a bustling international airport could be built there.

But how to get this land from the Egyptians? The answer is simple – do not go to the Egyptians directly, go to the Palestinians. The one chance that the Egyptians will accept it is if the Palestinians came to them directly and asked.

In 1965, an exchange of territory took place between Saudi Arabia and Jordan . The Jordanians were interested in expanding the coast of Aqaba , and thus sought 20 km primarily for building a port. Jordanians exchanged 7000 sq. km. and were given 6000 sq. km. If the Saudis and Jordanians could exchange territories, why can't the Palestinians and Egyptians? However, what do the Palestinians have to give?

The solution to that is a tri-partite exchange, bringing Israel into the mix. The Israelis would cede territory to Egypt in the Negev and allow a corridor highway to be built between Egypt and Jordan from this territory. The Israelis would get territory in the West Bank equivalent to the area the Palestinians receive from Egypt . And the Palestinians, of course, would be given land in the Sinai.

The Palestinians, though, must have a connection between Gaza and the West Bank . A highway between Beit Hanoun and Beit Hawa would be constructed. In the middle of this highway, another one that extends up to Ramallah would be built. Finally, one more highway would go from south of Hebron to the new area of Greater Gaza.

Such a structure could change the viability of a Palestinian state. In regards to economic viability, the Palestinians can't sustain themselves entirely off of agriculture in this day and age. This territory provides for expanded industries. The idea here though is to start with this objective, and work back from there. Past projects, such as Oslo , have failed because the exact opposite procedure was pursued.

DISCUSSION:

• It seems that the Israelis continuously try to transform the conflict into an Arab problem, and force it into the Arab arena, such as Jordan and Egypt . However, this is a Palestinian issue, so the Israelis should not divert to the Egyptians to avoid the other protagonist.
  
  
• In the Holy Land , the prevalent religion is that of the land. To both sides the land is coveted. The Palestinians do not want in their state Egyptian land, but they want their homeland that is holy to them. Why not give them the Negev ? Why not give them the Galilee , as it was in the partition plan of 1947?
  
  
• It seems that by transferring to Israel parts of the West Bank in this plan, there is a legitimization of the aggression and occupation of 1967. How can we accept this? Any plan should have as its basis international law and justice.
  
  
• Why would the Israeli leadership accept this plan if they know that the so-called Palestinian leadership is ready and willing to write off economic viability and accept a state on even less than the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip… a state that would be a client and economically subservient to Israel thus benefiting them.
  
  
• The presentation of this plan seems to conveniently leave out any maps of the West Bank . All the cards should be placed on the table and the exact territories of the West Bank that would go to Israel should be displayed.
  
  
• The argument that the water on the coast of Sinai is a useful resource, due to desalinization treatment, does not hold up. This process is not cost-effective and could hamper economic development in Gaza , rather than hasten viability and sustainability.
  
  
• Rather than these complex solutions, the very simple solution is to just get out of the West Bank and Gaza . To end occupation! ( But this is not economically viable, that is the main purpose of the proposal) . Palestinians will make it viable, that has never been Israel 's concern.
  
  
• The participants discussed the issue of land swap as a whole, particularly as it relates to justice, international law and property rights.

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