While terrorism is increasing in Judea and Samaria, the Netanyahu government has approved a significant economic benefit to the Palestinian Authority in the form of an Israeli permit to develop the gas field located in the Mediterranean Sea opposite the Gaza Strip. The Judean reported early in May that there were clandestine talks ongoing between Egypt, Israel, and the PA, and it was announced yesterday that a deal has been made.
The Prime Minister's Office announced that he has ordered the implementation of the gas field development project, known as "Gaza Marine," which had been delayed for years. "Within the framework of the processes taking place between the State of Israel and Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, with an emphasis on the development of the Palestinian economy and the maintenance of security stability in the region, it was decided to advance the development of the gas field (off the coast of) Gaza.” It was further emphasized that this would be done while maintaining the security limitations that would arise with the advancement of a Palestinian rig in front of the Israeli coastline.
Today @IsraeliPM gave the PA and Egypt a green-light to develop a natural gas field off the Gaza Strip's shore on condition that Israel’s national interests are safeguarded.
— FDD (@FDD) June 18, 2023
New @FDD Flash Brief -- insights from @mdubowitz, @rich_goldberg, and @JoeTruzman:…
"The implementation of the project is subject to coordination between the security mechanisms and direct dialogue with Egypt in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, and to the completion of the work of the inter-ministerial headquarters led by the National Security Headquarters, for the purpose of preserving the security and political interests of the State of Israel in the matter," the Prime Minister's Office said. The development of the field is expected to be done by the National Gas Company of Egypt.
According to estimates, the field contains much more gas than the amount the PA consumes so it will allow the export of gas which represents the potential for significant economic income. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the demand for natural gas has increased in Europe, however, the Palestinian Authority currently remains invested in allocating a significant percentage of its budget to pay monthly royalties to Palestinian terrorists and their families - there are fears that some of the revenue from gas sales will go towards boosting these incentives, however, it seems Egypt's involvement in the deal has helped alleviate those concerns.
It’s not often I can boast that @TheJudean beat the awesome @LahavHarkov to a scoop. In this case I can say we did by well over a month.https://t.co/GFjFrlFC4Q
— Jay Engelmayer (@jengelmayer) June 18, 2023
In addition, there is the issue of dividing the profits from the gas between the terrorist organization Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian Authority. Last September, Hamas launched a campaign demanding rights to the gas reservoirs off the coast of Gaza, under the title "Our gas - our right", adding threats that they will defend their rights to the natural resource with “blood and weapons.”
The development of the gas rig and Israeli approval comes after a round of discussions was held in Cairo between senior Egyptian officials and the leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The parties discussed, among other things, the issue of the gas field off the coast of Gaza, around which discussions are ongoing between Egypt, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority, under the auspices of the US. The intention is that the field will be operated jointly between Cairo and the Israeli government, with the Palestinian Authority receiving part of the revenues allocated to it, and Hamas likely benefiting from them as well.
