From the Israel Archives |
Coverage of the Events since October 2000
Hände weg von Israel und Islam!
Green Light Given For Gaza Seaport, Airport
2005-07-11
The Jerusalem Post
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite? pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull& cid=112096 2589402&p=1078027574097
Israel has given the Palestinians approval to start building a seaport in Gaza and begin planning a new airport there as well, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told Al-Jazeera television in a landmark interview on Sunday. Mofaz also called on the Arab world to give the Palestinians economic and humanitarian aid.
This was the first time the defense minister has granted the popular television station an interview, which was held at his office in Tel Aviv.
Mofaz praised the current Palestinian leadership for its efforts to reach goals through dialogue and coexistence, but also noted that terrorism had not ceased. Mofaz told Al-Jazeera that the Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria would "stand the test of the final peace agreement."
"It is clear to us that some of the settlements will be on the Israeli side [of a border]. The state needs defensible borders. Israel is small so it has to ensure that in 50 years time we will be able to defend ourselves," Mofaz said.
Asked about the Jordan Valley, Mofaz reiterated that he believed it provided Israel with "strategic depth."
"We will never give up on [the Jordan Valley], so we can ensure we can continue living here in all changing realities," Mofaz said.
The 30-minute interview was conducted in Hebrew by Al-Jazeera's Jerusalem bureau chief, Walid el Omri. It is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday.
Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis
