The Navy's solution to the Gaza sea port question
In professional opinion prepared for decision-makers, Israeli Navy says all options under consideration for Gaza sea port are feasible, but says all cargo must go through Israeli security screening before going into the strip.
Israeli defense officials have been examining ways to improve the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip in an effort to avoid a violent escalation that could lead to war.
One possibility that has been under examination for over a year is the construction of a sea port through which Gazans could bring in merchandise, construction materials and civilian equipment to help the local economy recover.
While the first two options are expensive and complex to construct—and will therefore take more time—the first two are easier to realize in the near future.
The Navy sedetermined, however, that random security checks will not suffice, and therefore all cargo must be screened before going into the strip.
"There's no question that the screening must be Israeli. We won't play (Russian) roulette, because there's a destructive potential in naval transport," a Navy officer said.
The move—which will include assistance, mostly financially, from foreign elements such as Egypt or Qatar—is likely the "big settlement" a senior Southern Command officer alluded to two weeks ago, after warning of a "slippery slope down which we could fall if there is no initiative from our side."
"We can allow for small steps to be implemented that will give us a year to a year and a half of calm. We do not have to help Hamas and prop them up, but the size of Hamas's concessions will correspond to the size of the settlement," he elucidated.
Since then, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has repeatedly come out against any sort of agreement with Hamas that does not include the return of the two Israeli citizens and the remains of two IDF soldiers being held by the terror group.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, additional relief measures are being examined in the naval arena. Israel is considering allowing Gaza residents to set up large sea cages off the shores of the strip to significantly increase the number of fish being caught.
Fishing has become a significant source of income for Gaza residents, which recently led Israel to increase the fishing zone from six to nine nautical miles.
"The solution for the Gaza Strip problem is not military," a Navy officer said. "We returned the fishing boats we confiscated due to repeat deviations (from the fishing zone)."
