<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceType"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceName"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="country-region"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="City"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:black;
font-weight:bold;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>Geopolitical Time Line:
War, Natural Gas and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>'s
Marine Zone <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Fishermen's Rights versus the
Development of Natural Gas<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>By David K. Schermerhorn<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca">Global Research</a>, January 14,
2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>BACKGROUND:
</span></font></b></strong><b><span style='font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></b><br>
There is an historical connection between the Gazan community and the off shore
fishery. In recent times some 3000 fishermen in over 700 boats made their
livelihood in the waters off the shores of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>. Before 1978 when the fishing area included
the sea off the Sinai coastline the area covered some 75,000 square kilometers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
larger boats are about 20 meters in length and usually carry a crew of 7. They
are typically trawlers using downriggers to lower their nets to the ocean bed.
Currently their main catch is bream or sardines that average between 8 and 14
inches. The smallest craft are rowboats normally used to deploy nets a few
hundred meters off shore. The nets are then hauled in by hand from the beach.
These catches are very modest.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>After the
1994 GAZA-JERICHO AGREEMENT the fishermen were free to use a corridor extending
20 nautical miles from the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>
shore bounded by restricted zones to the north and south abutting Israeli and
Egyptian waters. After the UN's 2002 Bertini proposal the approved location was
reduced to an area within 12 nautical miles of the coast. More recently the
area available has been reduced to 300 square kilometers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Beginning
in late 2000 the Israeli military began a campaign of intimidation and
harassment against the fishing boats that ventured near or beyond a 6 nautical
mile limit. No formal notice or explanation was ever given to the Palestinians.
Instead the regulation was written and enforced by Israeli machine guns and
water cannons. At least 14 fishermen have been killed by the Israelis, over 200
injured and numerous boats damaged or impounded.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>WHY?</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In the
late 1990's the British Gas Group (BG Group) discovered a vast deposit of
natural gas under the waters off <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>:
Over 1 trillion cubic feet equal to 150 million barrels of oil was estimated to
be there. A significantly smaller deposit was also found in nearby Israeli
waters.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>On
11/8/99 Chairman Yasser Arafat signed an agreement giving BG Group 90 percent
interest and 10 per cent to Consolidated Contractors Company, an <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Athens</st1:place></st1:City> based Palestinian
entity connected to the PLO. A final allocation of the rights continues to be
contested between BG Group, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and the Palestinians in obscured ongoing negotiations. The Israelis began their
program of killing and harassing the Gazan fishermen only after the discovery
of the natural gas deposits. It is a reasonable assumption that the two events
are linked: That the Israelis are asserting control over this resource valued
at over 4 billion dollars; And that they are intent on denying any benefit to
the Palestinians regardless of who controls <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>TIMELINE:</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>-May 4,
1994: PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
signed The Gaza-Jericho Agreement. Article XI established three Maritime
Activity Zones that extended out to sea 20 nautical miles from the coast of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>. Two narrow Zones
running parallel to the boundaries of Egyptian and Israeli waters were
designated No Fishing Areas. Under the terms of the Agreement the larger
remaining Zone "will be open for fishing, recreation and economic
activities." The Gazan fishermen operated freely for the next 6 years
within this Zone with no major confrontations with the Israelis.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>- Late
1990's: The British Gas Group (later BG Group) began explorations off the
Israeli and Gazan coasts for natural gas. A modest deposit was found in Israeli
waters close to the Gaza Marine Activity Zone. A significantly larger deposit
was found in a section of this Zone centered some 10 to 15 nautical miles
offshore. It was estimated that there were sufficient reserves to generate
electric power for all Palestinian needs for a decade and still have surplus to
export.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>- July
25, 2000: Yasser Arafat walked out on the <st1:place w:st="on">Camp David</st1:place>
meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>-
September 27, 2000: Yasser Arafat traveled 19 miles off the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City> coast to light the first flare stack
flowing from the natural gas. An Israeli oil consortium had contested the
Palestinian rights to the gas but was overturned in an Israeli court. The initial
agreement with the BG Group gave them 90 percent interest and 10 percent to
Consolidated Contractors Company, an <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Athens</st1:place></st1:City>
based Palestinian group. They and the Palestinian Investment Fund (PIF) had the
option to later assume up to 40 per cent interest.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Initially
BG Group negotiated with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>
to run an undersea pipeline designed to import the gas. Under pressure from
Tony Blair BG Group was forced to negotiate with the Israelis instead. Those
discussions, which centered over price, have been so long and contentious that
BG Group closed their <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
office and again began dealing with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>-
September 28, 2000: Ariel Sharon visited the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Temple</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Mount</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
despite warnings by Arafat and other leading Palestinians. The predictable
riots and deaths following this provocation marked the beginning of 2nd
Intafada. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:City>
was elected Prime Minister in February 2001. He vowed that <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> would
never buy gas from the Palestinians. After the outbreak of the 2nd Intafada the
Israelis began an ever-tightening blockade of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City> with fewer and fewer trucks allowed to
enter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>- Late
2000: Attacks by Israeli patrol boats against Gazan fishing boats began and
have continued to this day. These attacks began 5 years before Hamas freely won
the legislative elections on January 25, 2006. It is apparent that these
assaults on the fishermen had nothing to do with security or with Hamas.
Instead it had everything to do with a 4 billion dollar resource belonging to
the Palestinians.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>- August,
2002: In response to a request from Prime Minister Sharon, the
Secretary-General of the United Nations appointed Ms. Catherine Bertini as his
Personal Humanitarian Envoy to asses humanitarian needs of the Palestinians. At
the end of her visit to the area she made numerous recommendations including one
that dealt with the fishing boats. In her report she included a list of
"Previous Commitments Made by <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>". Item 2 states:
"The fishing zone for Palestinian fishing boats off the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City> coast is 12 nautical miles. This policy
needs to be fully implemented." But never was!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>-
Although the attacks occurred throughout the Maritime Activity Zone they were
more common once a boat had passed the 6-mile limit. Most boats now carry GPS's
in order to know their exact positions. Some captains are intimidated by the
Israeli threat and turn back before crossing the line. Others go further
despite the increased danger from the Israelis. The fishery closer to shore has
collapsed after so many boats were forced to operate in such a limited area. In
addition the waters near shore are polluted due to sewage pouring in from
broken pipes. One more consequence of an infrastructure crippled by the
Israelis. Since the outset of these assaults at least 14 fishermen have been
killed and over 200 injured. Boats continue to be damaged or impounded.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>9/12/05 -
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> announced that it had
ended the occupation of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>
and withdrew its forces. It maintained control of land and sea-lanes as well as
all border crossings on land.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>1/25/06 -
Hamas won 76 of 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council in an open
honest election. After a bloody battle with Fatah elements Hamas took control
of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>. <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> branded Hamas a
terrorist organization and have had no public contact with it thereafter. The
restrictions at the border crossings were tightened further with severe
limitations on the traffic of produce, materials, medicines and people. Anemia
and malnutrition were widespread as a result.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Early
June 2008 - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the Israel Defense
Forces to covertly prepare for an invasion of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City> to be known as operation "Cast
Lead".<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>June,
2008 -<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
contacted BG Group to propose reopening negotiations over the natural gas
deposits. Actual negotiations overseen by Ehud Olmert were taking place in
October, 2008. It appears that <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
wished to reach an agreement with BG Group before the secretly planned invasion
began.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>6/19/08 -
Hamas and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> signed a
6-month truce agreement calling for cessation of rocket firings by Hamas and
military incursions by <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
In May over 300 rockets had been fired. In September only 5 to 10 were fired.
Hamas was lead to believe that significant increase in shipments would be
allowed to enter <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>.
Before the truce roughly 70 trucks were allowed to bring provisions into <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City> each day compared
with some 900 permitted before the Israeli clamp down in 2000. Hamas believed
that a similar flow of traffic would be restored. Instead <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> allowed
only an increase from the 70 to 90 trucks.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>11/5/08 -
IDF forces killed 6 Palestinians while supposedly searching for a tunnel
passing under the border. In effect the truce was over after this provocation.
During the next 5 weeks 237 rockets were fired into <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> compared with the 5 to 10
fired in September. The increase in rocket fire was <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s public justification for
launching the long planned "Cast Lead" invasion.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>11/18/08
- An Egyptian court ordered the government to stop shipping natural gas to <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Under a
2005 agreement <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> agreed
to deliver 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> over a 15-year period. The
gas began to flow in May, 2008. A lawsuit followed seeking to bar delivery
since the Parliament had not given its approval. The court supported the
lawsuit and its findings are being appealed. The potential cutoff of the gas
from Egypt gave Israel even more incentive to take control of the Gaza Marine
deposits and to deny any benefits to Palestinians whether Hamas or Fatah.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>11/18/08
- Israeli naval vessels attacked three Palestinian fishing boats located seven
miles off the coast of <st1:place w:st="on">Deir Al Balah</st1:place>, clearly
within the limits permitted in the 1994 Gaza-Jericho Agreement. Fifteen
Palestinian fishermen and three international observers were kidnapped and
taken with the boats to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
The fishermen were held for a day and then released. The boats were eventually
returned but damaged. The internationals were jailed in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> for many
days and then deported.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>12/27/08
- <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> began bombing <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City> as phase 1 of
operation "Cast Lead". The vast natural gas deposits of Gaza Marine 1
and 2 rest a few miles offshore.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>To the
victor the spoils one more time? Only time and perhaps the conscience of the
world will determine.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Although
the violations of law and basic human rights to the Gazan fishermen pale in
comparison to the horrors that have unfolded they should not be forgot or
forgiven. Based on the limited reports coming from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Gaza</st1:City></st1:place> due to Israeli restrictions on
journalists it is possible that there are no fishing boats left or even a
harbor. Perhaps justice will never be served on those who initiated and
perpetuated these assaults. But let us never forget that the greed and
self-interest embodied in these policies are those of a country that has lost
its shame. Has lost its honor.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-style:italic'>David K. Schermerhorn has traveled on humanitarian missions
to <st1:City w:st="on">Gaza</st1:City> on three separate occasions in recent
months aboard Free <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place></st1:City>
(www.freegaza.org) boats. He spent spent two days aboard fishing boats that
were harassed by Israeli machine gun fire and assaulted by water cannons.</span></font></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the sole
responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre
for Research on Globalization. The contents of this article are of sole
responsibility of the author(s). The Centre for Research on Globalization will
not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements
contained in this article.<br>
<br>
<a
href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=section§ionName=membership">To
become a Member of Global Research</a><br>
<br>
The CRG grants permission to cross-post original Global Research articles on
community internet sites as long as the text & title are not modified. The
source and the author's copyright must be displayed. For publication of Global
Research articles in print or other forms including commercial internet sites,
contact: <a href="mailto:crgeditor@yahoo.com">crgeditor@yahoo.com </a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/www.globalresearch.ca">www.globalresearch.ca</a>
contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically
authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our
readers under the provisions of "fair use" in an effort to advance a
better understanding of political, economic and social issues. The material on
this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to
use copyrighted material for purposes other than "fair use" you must
request permission from the copyright owner.<br>
<br>
For media inquiries: <a href="mailto:crgeditor@yahoo.com">crgeditor@yahoo.com</a><br>
<br>
© Copyright David K. Schermerhorn, Global Research, 2009 <br>
<br>
The url address of this article is: <a
href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=11787">www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=11787</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;font-weight:
bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>