Abbar said he was interested in initiating development projects in the Gush Katif bloc.

GAZA CITY, February 19, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – A construction tycoon from the United Arab Emirates is thinking of buying and redeveloping the Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli pullout planned later this year.

Emerging from talks with Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, Mohammad Ali Al-Abbar, chairman of the leading Dubai-based Emmar Properties, said he was interested in initiating development projects in the Gush Katif bloc of settlements in the southern Gaza Strip after Israel leaves, Reuters reported Saturday, February 19.

But he said that “it is premature to talk about buying the settlements,” stressing discussions were “at the starting point.”

A statement issued by Peres's spokesman following the meeting said the two sides had agreed to set up professional teams to prepare a working plan.

“Israel wants to keep the infrastructure intact and also to find a solution for the dwellings in the settlements,” the statement quoted Peres as saying.

Abbar, the driving force behind the huge effort to turn Dubai into the tourism, leisure and business hub of the Gulf, told Reuters that he was looking into developing residential and commercial properties, including hotels, in the Gaza Strip.

Abbar, who is also director general of the Dubai government's Department of Economic Development, briefly met Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon last week as well as held detailed discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei - both of whom are said to be impressed by the plans, The Independent reported on Saturday.

Beneficial to All

“I see it as positive and I think Sharon also takes a positive view,” Peres said.

Peres sounded enthusiastic about the idea, saying it would benefit both the Palestinians and the settlers.

“There is 45 percent unemployment in Gaza. The settlers built about (1,000 acres) of greenhouses. We can demolish them. Why not sell them? The settlers will have revenue and the Palestinians will have work,” Peres told Israel Radio.

Israel has allocated $870 million in compensation for the settlers, broken down into payments ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 per family, depending on size of assets.

Peres said he had raised the idea of selling settlement homes and businesses with  Sharon but said the prospect of leaving property intact for Palestinians was likely to stir more anger among settlers, whose leaders are waging a protest campaign against evacuation.

“I did not hear any objections from (Sharon). We discussed this, and there was no need to take a decision at the time. I see it as positive and I think Sharon also takes a positive view.”

Ra'anan Gissin, Sharon's spokesman, said, however, that the government has to check the details to make certain the property doesn't fall into “unwanted hands.”

The talks held in Tel Aviv and Ramallah by Abbar - whose Dubai projects include the world's tallest building and the world's biggest shopping centre - were arranged by Ephraim Sneh, a Labour Knesset member and former minister.

Sneh told The Independent the Dubai developer was motivated by a desire to “assist his Palestinian brothers.”

He added that Abbar was keen to press ahead with development plans whether the homes were sold to him or not and that Abbas and Qurei had been “delighted” that he “has come to assist the Palestinians.”

Crucial Vote

Sharon's plan to dismantle all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four of 120 in the West Bank is bracing for a crucial cabinet vote on Sunday, February 20.

He will ask the government to approve the evacuation of settlements, effectively giving the 8,000 Israelis who live there the five months' notice required under law before they can be dislodged.

Political commentators expect Sharon to win the vote easily.

Last June, the cabinet ratified “disengagement” from the Palestinians but hedged the decision by putting off a vote on scrapping settlements.

Since then, Sharon has reshaped his government to include more proponents of a withdrawal which he promoted as a bid that would help Israel cement its claim to the larger West Bank settlement blocs.

Last week, Israeli Housing Minister Isaac Herzog said Gaza settlers would be encouraged to relocate to sparsely populated areas of Israel, but could also go to a new West Bank settlement block if they will.

The new settlement, which violates the internationally-backed roadmap, is planned as an extension to the Gush Etzion bloc.

The peace blueprint requires a halt to settlement-building on Palestinian lands Israel occupied in 1967.

But US President George W. Bush said in 2004 that Israel could expect to keep some of the West Bank land.