Professors for a Strong Israel

Partial List of the Negative Consequences of Uncoordinated Development in the Gaza Strip

as listed in the booklet

Joint Planning for the Gaza Strip and for Israel -- General Survey

(Ministry of the Interior, October 1996)

  1. Water
    1. The aquifers in Gaza are being depleted and a dependence is being created on water from Israel.
    2. Some of the Arab settlements in the Strip are already dependent on a supply of drinking water from Israe.
    3. Industrial sewage from the Strip is flowing to the Shikma Lake near Ashkelon.
    4. The energy needed for running the water and sewage systems in the Strip comes from Israel.
    5. Water purification plants in Gaza are not being operated so that water fit for reclamation is being wasted.
  2. Energy
    1. The price tag for repairing the environmental damage due to faulty planning of the energy infrastructure will be high.
  3. Transportation
    1. Uncontrolled construction along the Strip's roads is making them impassable. As a result, the development of transportation between the northern Strip and the southern Strip will require use of roads within Israel.
    2. Almost all the land transportation to and from the Strip passes through Israel, increasing the traffic load on her roads.
    3. The use of land and infrastructure within Israel to solve the Strip's transport problems will involve the loss of agricultural land and the creation of security risks.
    4. The ``Safe Passage'' from Gaza to Judea will affect the roads and the distribution of settlements within Israel.
    5. The Jewish Agency is planning roads for the ``Safe Passage'' through Israel. Is this the Agency's purpose??
    6. The development of the Port of Gaza will cause widespread damage to Israel's southern beaches.
    7. The development of an airport in the Strip will affect and limit usage of the airspace in southern Israel.
    8. High-rise construction in the northern Strip will adversely affect the ability to build Israel's second international airport in the Zikim area.
  4. Industry
    1. Palestinian industrial areas have been expanded into Israeli territory.
  5. Agriculture
    1. Gazan agricultural produce has created many sanitary and public health problems.
  6. Environmental quality
    1. Examples of the areas that can be adversely affected by the lack of cooperation and joint planning: Water quality and sewage, solid waste treatment, hazardous waste treatment, pollution of the sea and beaches, etc.