Israeli Official Proposes Artificial Island Off Gaza

An Israeli minister has proposed to the cabinet that an artificial island be built off the coast of the Gaza Strip to house a seaport, airfield and tourism facilities.  While official the island is aimed at encouraging tourism, Yisrael Katz, Israel’s minister for transportation, reportedly believes that the offshore facility would relieve Israel of the onus of controlling the delivery of goods into the enclave, which is controlled by the Muslim fundamentalist group Hamas. The proposal would have the island under international control “for at least 100 years” to ensure Israel’s security and prevent from being used to smuggle weapons in Gaza. Katz told Israel Army radio that there many entrepreneurs willing to invest in the project and that it was feasible due to the shallow waters off Gaza’s coast. The estimated cost of endeavor was put at as much as $10 billion. Environmentalists and Palestinian officials described the venture as "fantasy" and "madness."