Israel may buy Palestinian gas from Gaza: Olmert's office

[bemildred]

Israel has approved in principle the purchase of Palestinian gas from British Gas, the company developing a field off the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office told AFP on Sunday.

"The government on Sunday decided to cooperate with British Gas," an official at Olmert's office said, without elaborating.

"If such a contract is finalised, it can bring the Palestinian Authority dividends worth tens of millions of dollars per year," army radio said after the weekly cabinet meeting when the decision was taken.

The government approved the move despite objections from several ministers, including hardline Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, the radio said.

Turkish Press

[jaysunb]

1. I hope this will fly

It could be a new way to resolve this conflict. Showing a sign of trust is always a good first step.

:thumbsup:

[bemildred]

2. It sounded like a good thing to me.

Commerce beats war every time.

[Tom Joad]

4. Not likely. Very unlikely.

[The Magistrate]

5. And So, Mr. Joad, What Is Your Prescription?

If you do not think that economic ties and profit may advance co-existence between the peoples.

[pelsar]

7. a believe is a believer.....

its rather difficult for some to see the govt of israel and its doings as anything but evil (a believer?)......anything besides that really would upset the "apple cart" and is best ignored or explained as impossible....

[Amused Musings]

3. From what I remember,

the Palestinians voted for Hamas in the first place because they were perceived as not as corrupt as Fatah (or is that just the military wing of that party?). It was not because Hamas would not back down from calls for the de facto annihilation of Israel, even if that is what happened. If Gaza can get an independent source of wealth and it is administered honestly, as Palestinians seem to believe Hamas will, this may seriously curbed the violence. Why fight if it risks prosperity?

That of course is the best case scenario. Hard-headedness is by its nature difficult to overcome. It may end up being used to further violence.

[pelsar]

6. I though israel was "stealing the water"?

one of the usual themes we get is that israel is in the westbank to steal the water (even though the main aquifer goes under the pre 67 lines)...so why doesnt israel just steal the gas?

unless.....maybe israel isnt stealing the water and we'll have to accept yet another one of the anti israeli themes as being no more than demonization?