Just in the energy sector:
The Gas for Gaza (G4G) initiative facilitates the agreement and construction of a gas pipeline from the Israeli gas network to Gaza. It is led through the formal Task Force platform, which is convened by the OQ [Office of the Quartet.]And:
Ongoing progress has been achieved since the first Task Force meeting in August 2015, including identification of a route, the start of permitting in the Israeli system and ongoing progress in developing the project’s commercial framework. To support the provision of natural gas to Gaza, the OQ will:
1. Continue to chair the G4G Task Force and work with the parties to facilitate progress, including undertaking necessary studies and coordinating between the parties;
2. Initiate, coordinate and facilitate all project activities including security, technical, financial, legal and political dimensions of the project;
3. Work to secure funding for the infrastructure that is required;
4. Support the planning and permitting processes in Israel and Gaza.
Once completed, the G4G project will not only contribute to a significant increase in domestic generation on a cost-efficient basis, but also enable other critical infrastructure including the Gaza Central Desalination Plant, enable economic growth and development more broadly and importantly will fundamentally improve the quality of life.
The establishment of a high voltage 161 kV line will allow for bulk import of electricity from Israel to Gaza, which will expand the supply of electricity and reduce costs. According to estimates made by the Government of Israel (GoI), this high voltage connection can provide an additional 100 MW of electricity in 3-4 years. However, in the interim, until the electricity from the 161 kV line is available for Gaza, the option of providing an additional 25 MW as a stop-gap measure is being examined.Once again, the question is - why is this not reported anywhere?
Meanwhile, Israel is cooperating with the ICRC to allow some Gaza farmers to resume cultivating land closer to the security fence that Israel had turned into no-man's land because of the rocket threat. Israel placed some restrictions, such as no crops taller than 70 cm and no fruit trees that can hide terror activity.
The meme of an Israel hell bent on starving Gazans from food and power is too delicious for reporters to want to counter. Because if it is true that Israel is working to improve the lives of Palestinians when possible, then, maybe, a lot of the Palestinian problems are self-inflicted. And that is not acceptable to say.
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