Desalination plants part of Palestine agreement

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on 4 February 2011 agreeing to improvements in water, sewerage and electricity in Palestinian areas, following a meeting with Tony Blair, representative of the “Quartet” (USA, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union).

The improvements, said Netanyahu, were “intended to make Gaza independent of Israeli infrastructure by helping to develop their electricity plants, water and sewerage treatment. I think this is important. There are significant international projects that we want to advance.”

Blair said, “There is agreement to mobile desalination plants to meet Gaza’s needs for clean water; and approval in principle for a larger permanent desalination plant.

 There is also full approval for all the sanitation and water treatment plants necessary for Gaza, with the Government of Israel agreeing to facilitate and support the entry of construction materials to enable projects to be completed on schedule.”