Israel approves Gaza offshore gas field

Israel’s foreign ministry declared that it had held new talks with the Palestinian authorities over the development of a gas field off the cost of the Gaza strip.    

         
In a report released on Sunday, to be submitted to a New York gathering of donors to the Palestinian Authority, the following points were marked.           

"Development of the Gaza Marine gas field will generate revenues that could contribute dramatically to Palestinian fiscal sustainability," the report says.              

"Following an approach by the Palestinian Authority, Israel confirmed its intention to engage in a meaningful discussion with the aim of developing the Gaza Marine gas field.            

"In this context, official letters were submitted and meetings took place between Israeli representatives and the Palestinian leadership. These were followed by initial negotiations between the relevant parties regarding the development of the Gaza Marine gas field."           

An Israeli official, declined to specify when the meetings began or how advanced negotiations were, but he said Israel was eager to see work begin on the gas field the AFP reported.             

The report also gives no details of when the meetings took place, or whether the discussions were ongoing.              

The development of the Gaza Marine field has been on hold for years, with Israel and the Palestinians at odds over the project.              

The situation is additionally complicated by Palestinian internal divisions.                

The Palestinian Authority government headed by president Mahmud Abbas controls only the West Bank, with Israel and much of the international community declining to engage with the Islamist Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip.