Quartet envoy upbeat on Gaza sewage projects

Trying to make economics support the political process, Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, announced on 13 May a series of moves agreed upon by the Israelis and Palestinians which would allow for an improvement in the quality of life in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Blair, who is the representative of the Quartet - the group made up of the US, the European Union, Russia and the UN - had little to say about the current situation in the Gaza Strip, but expressed his hope for peace in the enclave, saying this would aid the political and humanitarian situation there.

However, Blair did announce progress on Gaza's sewage projects, which will allow certain stages of work to go ahead now that clearance has been granted for the import of basic materials, as well as goods needed by the water utilities agency in Gaza, CMWU, which provides drinking water and sanitation services.

Since the Hamas takeover of the Strip in June 2007 tight restrictions have been placed on imports and a near total ban on exports.

With unemployment rising and the future looking bleak, the lack of an economic track in the enclave will probably only add to residents’ concerns about how they will feed their families without having to rely on international aid, though over two-thirds already receive handouts.

Photo: Wissam Nassar/IRIN

Sewage floating off the coast, west of Gaza City

New tracks in West Bank

Speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, Blair announced several key tracks he was developing in the West Bank, with the idea that they would allow for the creation of a Palestinian state. These are: economic and social projects, the lifting of movement restrictions, and improving the Palestinian security forces.

"For Palestinian statehood to be possible in the eyes of Palestinians there must be hope that the occupation will, over time, be lifted" and Israel must be sure its security will not be damaged, the envoy said.

Projects will also focus on basic development and humanitarian work, such as the building of several wastewater treatment plants in the West Bank and housing projects. Blair said plans were under way to develop the rural Area C of the West Bank, which remained under full Israeli control after the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, and to decrease Israeli-enforced house demolitions there.

One of the projects announced was an industrial zone in the northern Jenin District, which is supposed to support the new Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces deployed in that area.

"In Nablus there was no combination of security and economics," said Blair, referring to a large Palestinian city where PA forces were deployed but Israeli troops continue to enter, and in the view of many observers undermine the Palestinian government.

"We have learned from Nablus," he said, noting that in Jenin movement restrictions would be alleviated, thereby allowing the district to function in a quasi-normal manner. He hoped it would serve as the basis for improvements in other West Bank towns.

Photo: Shabtai Gold/IRIN

Nidal stands inside the remains of his home, destroyed in 2006 by Jerusalem Municipality who said it was built without a permit

More permits

Blair announced progress on other industrial projects, which should create jobs for the many unemployed Palestinians. Another several thousand permits would be given to Palestinian workers, granting them access to Israel.

Israel also agreed to allow for longer entry permits for non-governmental organisation (NGO) workers, which should "substantially ease their ability to carry out their humanitarian activities" a statement by his office said.

The announcements come just a week before the Palestine Investment Conference is set to take place in Bethlehem. The conference is viewed by some as a litmus test of whether important private sector investors would be willing to put money on Palestine.

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