The Palestinian Authority has drafted a plan which would create a belt of Palestinian communities circling Israeli neighborhoods in Jerusalem. The announcement came from Faisal Husseini, the Palestinian in charge of Jerusalem affairs. Palestinians have been enlisting the aid of Arab international business leaders to implement a plan to buy land in Jerusalem for the program. Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov will discuss selling Russian natural gas to Israel. Israeli officials will press Russia not to supply Iran with nuclear technology and missiles.
Russian companies are active there in nuclear development and supplying missiles.
Israel may import gas as fuel for power generation as its electricity consumption grows. It is currently seeking gas from Egypt and a new pipeline to Turkey could be extended under the Mediterranean Sea to Israel. Bakshi-Doran recalled that following the Six Day War, the Chief Rabbinate ruled that because of its holiness, it was forbidden for Jews to ascend the Temple Mount. Proper said that the two countries should pursue peace without waiting for the politicians and that the economies of the two countries were complimentary rather than competitive. Overall investment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has slumped from 28 percent of GDP to just over 18 percent.