As calls grow to improve the dire living conditions in the Gaza Strip, Israel reportedly is quietly planning to set up three industrial zones along its Gaza border that could employ thousands of Palestinians and help ease the threat of terrorism that rises from poverty and oppression.
Matan Tsuri, a security affairs correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth, revealed Nov. 29 Israel's big plans for what the news site called "anti-terrorist factories." Two of the industrial zones are to be built on 2,000-dunam (almost 500-acre) plots of land, while the third will be developed on 1,500 dunams. In mid-November, some big European banks and companies, along with US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, were briefed about the plan and said they are interested in it, Tsuri said.
