A (very) modest proposal for the Gaza Strip

[question everything]

I will start by stating that I don't think it makes sense for Gaza to be part of the future Palestinian State in the West Bank, when both parts are separated, see map below. Unless some hope that at some point the whole area between the Eastern Mediterranean and the River Jordan will be one Palestinian state. Perhaps even including the Kingdom of Jordan. This will never happen.

Yes, Alaska is not connected to the continental 48 states but we are talking a huge mass of land here. And, to the best of my knowledge, there have not been hostilities and rocket attacks between the Yukon Territory and the State of Alaska.

Thus, it appears to me that there are two options:

First, the easiest, is for Egypt to annex the area. Gaza then will have no problems with the Israeli blockade, as it will receive all its supplies from Egypt through the Sinai Peninsula. As it is now, there are tunnels where rockets, and arms and even goats and donkeys get smuggled. So why not have above ground line of supplies for flour, diapers, cleaning and building material?

The second idea that tickles my fancy, is to make the Gaza strip a center of tourism and finance, of trade and tax haven. While the strip. at 141 sq. miles is smaller than Hong Kong at 426 sq. miles, it is the size of Andorra (181 sq. miles) and larger than Liechtenstein (62 sq. miles) and Monaco (less than 1 sq. mile). All these small countries base their economy on tourism and being tax haven.

Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States could put the initial funds to turn Gaza into a banking center. And there are many Palestinians who are good entrepreneur, who could turn areas in the strip into tourist attractions.

One thing that worries me, though, is that as the Gazans have become more radicalized, they may not look favorably at women tourists parading in itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikinis. We know that in some areas of the Muslim world, girls who just want to go to school get shot at. One of the founders of the Muslim Brotherhood Sayyid Qutb did so after being in the States in the 40s, and leaving after finding the U.S. to be "sexually promiscuous"

But, perhaps, a tourist enclave can be set apart. Or, just attract Muslim tourists who can still enjoy shopping and shows and casinos.

With either suggestion, the Gaza Strip will have to be demilitarized with both Israel and Egypt reserve the right, for 100 years to monitor this.


OK, start shooting.

[Tigress DEM]

1. The only people who have been able to peacefully exist in that area.....

Have been doctors, nurses and those in or entering the medical profession on both sides who see the end results of all the fighting over who gets to be in charge.

The religious leaders (at one time) held the Temple and the Wailing Wall as a sacred space and worked with their governments to make it possible for both sides to be allowed to pray there without being attacked.

Jewish people and Palestinians do live and have lived in this close proximity without bombing each other to bits.

So my idea is a UN occupied area that allows these groups to live in the Gaza strip and West bank with the UN making sure the resources are fairly divided and that anyone who does not abide by terms of peaceful co-existence can be warned, fined and or tossed out on their backsides to an area agreed upon in advance.

Make it a place of medical advances, great universities and maintain its continuity as the spiritual center it was for both sides whenever the fighting dies down.

[question everything]

2. Great idea. But the area will have to be demilitarized

and both Egypt and Israel will have to control the borders.

Let's not forget, there were UN forces in the area after the 1956 war and before the 1967 war started, Egypt's Nasser kicked them out.

[Tigress DEM]

3. Sometimes actually living through the war makes both sides more willing to talk peace.

There are probably a lot of people and soldiers and politicians who are deep down hoping for a solution that will work solid enough to really last for awhile and not just break apart.