potential benefits of the gas reservoirs located offshore of Gaza, discovered by the British Gas Group in 1999. According to the company’s estimates, more than 1.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas are available and technically recoverable in these fields. This quantity was estimated to be sufficient to provide the oPt with energy for more than a decade, with excess for exportation. Despite long negotiations with Israel, including the possibility to receive excess Palestinian gas directly or indirectly via Egypt with preferential prices, a satisfactory accord was not achieved. After the beginning of Hamas’ control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, all negotiations between parties ceased. Due to restrictions on foreign investment in the oPt imposed by Israel, this project could not be developed further. According to Palestinian experts49, the annual loss to the Palestinian economy as a consequence of the non-exploitation of these reserves is estimated at $US160 million, around two per cent of GDP in 2010. Pollution is a serious problem directly threatening public health, and the immediate and long-term sustainability of the Mediterranean marine environment. The main sources of pollution are untreated wastewater from domestic, agricultural, and industrial sources, as well as solid waste dumping. In 2010, the volume of partially or inadequately treated wastewater diverted on daily basis from urban centres of the Gaza Strip into the Mediterranean Sea was estimated at 80,000m3 50. Reports on the high levels of contamination of the Gaza beaches and shores with faecal bacteria and pathogenic microorganisms have been repeatedly documented51. Other direct sources of
pollution include untreated toxic solid waste dumped in landfills adjacent to the coastline, and surface runoff of agricultural waste loaded with organo-phosphoric pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers, which passes through Wadi Gaza during heavy rain causing occasional sea eutrophication and toxic algal blooms52. Coastal erosion, atmospheric pollutants runoff, and the potentially adverse effects associated with global climate change could also contribute to impacts.
Dead Sea The Dead Sea is considered a natural wonder, as one of the saltiest lakes in the world and occurring at more than 400m below sea level. It is called so because barely any macroscopic life survives in the water body. However, this is not the case for the basin itself and recent scientific missions revealed rich microscopic diversity, especially in the complex system of fresh water springs under the sea53. At present, more than 70 salt-tolerant microscopic fungal species have been identified in areas of the Dead Sea54. The Dead Sea is a major regional and international tourist attraction for recreational, medical, and religious purposes. It is rich in valuable minerals, mainly potash, which was first exploited by Palestinians during the British Mandate through the Palestine Potash Company founded in 1929. Since 1952, following the creation of the State of Israel, the company was succeeded by the Israeli-owned Dead Sea Works Ltd., which took entire control of the site.
Plan Bleu, Valbonne. (Blue Plan Papers 8).
water quality. Environmental Research, 99, 1-10.
49 The economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the occupied Palestinian territory, 2011. Palestinian Ministry of National Economy and ARIJ publications.
52 Abou Auda, M and Shahin, U, 2005. National Action Plan For Reduction of Pollution of Mediterranean from Land Based Sources. The Palestinian Authority, Ministry of Environmental Affairs.
50 One Year After - Gaza Early Recovery and Reconstruction Needs Assessment, 2010. UN Development Programme Report.
53 http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/09/new-life-found-dead-sea
51 Elmanama, A.A., Fahd, M.I., Afifi, S., Abdallah, S., Bahr, S., 2005. Microbiological beach sand quality in Gaza Strip in comparison to sea-
54 Oren A, Gunde-Cimerman N., 2012. Fungal life in the Dead Sea. Prog Mol Subcell Biol. 2012; 53:115-32.
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