Israeli Haaretz newspaper disclosed that Israeli transportation and intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz announced that he is working to advance plans to build an artificial island off the coast of Gaza.
Katz has been trying for a year and a half to table the plan called “the separation island”. He previously expressed his support for the prospect of a seaport in Gaza as part of efforts to completely cut off the Gaza Strip from Israel.
In his call for a port in the coastal Palestinian territory Katz proposed that the international community should oversee access to such a terminal under Israeli security control.
Katz’s plan stipulates the establishment of an artificial island over 8-kilometer area connected to the Gaza Strip through a bridge with a security checkpoint. “The off-shore project could provide Gaza with an economic and humanitarian gateway to the world without endangering Israeli security” he said.
According to Haaretz newspaper senior Israeli officials support the plan while it is rejected however by Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman.
