Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid presented Sept. 12 his vision for a long-term settlement between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Addressing a conference of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University, Lapid proposed an outline for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Lapid said that the plan — dubbed "economy for security" — presents a more realistic approach toward the reconstruction of Gaza in exchange for disarmament of Palestinian armed factions.
Lambasting the policy adopted by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vis-a-vis Gaza, Lapid noted, "Since Israel left the Gaza Strip in 2005, we have been dragged into round after round of violence causing suffering for our people and harming our economy. The policy Israel has pursued up until now hasn't substantially changed the situation. The closures haven’t stopped the smuggling and production of weapons. Last night we once again struck Gaza after yet another rocket was fired, and residents ran to their shelters. We need to change direction. What should we do? The short answer is that we need to start a large, multi-year process of economy for security. It is the more realistic version of what in the past was called 'rehabilitation for demilitarization.'"
Lapid explained that his outline includes two stages. The first stage will address the immediate humanitarian crisis in Gaza, tackling basic human needs there. "The electricity system will be repaired, gas will be connected, a water desalination plant will be built, significant improvements to the health-care system and a rebuilding of housing and transport infrastructure will take place. In exchange, Hamas will commit to long-term quiet," Lapid said.
The second stage of the outline includes a comprehensive economic jump-start for the Gaza Strip. Lapid proposed that "as part of the second stage the artificial island project off the coast of Gaza will be advanced, which will allow for the construction of a port. A transportation link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will be built. International investment inside Gaza and joint economic projects with Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority [PA] will be advanced. Industrial and employment zones will be built near the Erez border crossing."
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