Trump's Idea for Redeveloping Gaza to Become the Riviera of the Middle East
by John Lawrence
At first thought Trump's idea doesn't seem all that bad. On second thought it seems terrible. Wouldn't it be nice if Gaza could be redeveloped to be the Riviera of the Middle East? But then what would happen to the Palestinians? Trump wants to move them to Egypt or Jordan. No way Jose say the leaders of those countries. Trump also implies that, after the Palestinians have been gotten rid of, then Gaza and the West Bank would become part of Israel. Israel would extend "from the river to the sea," and to boot rich people from all over the world could buy expensive ocean front property in what once was Gaza. Right wing Israelis and perhaps even Netanyahu himself like this idea very much. However, with some alteration, at least part of this idea might be a feasible solution to the problem. Gaza at present is really uninhabitable. It, as Trump says, is a demolition zone. If the Palestinians moved out, Gaza could be properly demolished and then rebuilt. Israel could finish the war without harming any more Gazan civilians. Gaza could be razed, the tunnels destroyed and then properly rebuilt. But where are the Gazans to go during this process? How about Israel itself? According to available information, around 93% of Israel's land is considered "state land" managed by the Israel Land Administration, which means it is mostly available for lease and not privately owned, effectively making it "vacant" land for development purposes; the remaining 7% is privately owned or under religious authority control. Therefore, temporary accommodations for Gazans could be built inside Israel itself possibly right adjacent to the Gazan border while Gaza is being redeveloped and while the war is being "finished." Supposedly at that point no Gazans whether Hamas or otherwise, would be left inside Gaza.
After Gaza has been redeveloped, the Gazans would be allowed to move back in. Security could be provided by UN peace keepers, other Arabic countries such as Saudi Arabia or some other coalition until the normalization of Gaza in its own right could occur, thus resulting in a two state solution ipso facto without ever proclaiming a two state solution. It would happen naturally as a matter of course. This would amount to not a two state solution but to a one and a half state solution until such time as it would eventually turn into a two state solution. In this way multiple things could be accomplished. 1) Israel could "finish the war." 2) No more innocent civilians would be harmed. 3) Hamas would be wiped out. Only militants would be killed. 4) Gaza could be properly demolished and rebuilt. 5) Gazans could return to a rebuilt and refurbished Gaza, a veritable Riviera of the Middle East and 6) Israel would no longer be Gaza's overlord. A third party would provide security and 7) Palestine would "grow into" its own de facto state.
So what about the West Bank? That could be considered a separate issue. Or other ideas might also make sense. One would be a land swap. Increase the land area of Gaza proportionately to the land area of the West Bank and absorb the West Bank into Israel. Then the Palestinians would have one contiguous homeland instead of being divided into two pieces. In the final analysis Trump's idea with some modification is not all that bad. Gaza is really uninhabitable in its present condition. Hamas is still there. Why wouldn't Gazans want to temporarily move to a place with more humane and hospitable conditions? Eventually, the Paletinian government itself might want to lease a portion of its ocean front property for a Trump Tower Gaza.
Finally, none of the above measures should be undertaken until all the hostages are out. The cease fire should continue till all the hostages are out