If you’re like me you may not understand why so many in the US support the Palestinians after they killed more than 1,000 Jewish civilians and continue to hold 5 Americans hostages. I decided it might make a lot of sense to ask some questions and do some research.

Since Palestine consists of BOTH the West Bank and Gaza I wondered why Palestinian civilians in Gaza didn’t go to the West Bank while Israel hunts down the terrorist. It turns out that the West Bank doesn’t want them any more than Jordan or Egypt.

Neither Gaza or West Bank have been very hospitable to Christians over the years. The number of Christians still alive has plummeted.

On the other hand Israel seems to have welcomed a LOT of Palestinians. Every Palestinian citizen of Israel can vote and has the same rights as their fellow Jewish citizens. They are even exempt from the military draft. All of the benefits none of the risks.

If Palestine can eliminate its terrorist insurgency there are proposals to connect Gaza & the West Bank to create a unified nation. One plan is called the ‘Arc’ by RAND to build a infrastructure corridor with high-speed rail line, a toll road, an aqueduct, an energy network, & telecommunications lines.

In 1999 Israel proposed a 25-mile elevated road connecting Beit Hanoun in Gaza to Dura in the West Bank. The road would have four lanes. The proposal would consolidate two safe-passage routes into one, reducing Israeli security threats.

One of the biggest problems faced by Gaza was the maritime blockade. Palestinian terrorists used Mediterranean Sea to smuggle missiles into Gaza to fire at Israel resulting in the blockade. The hope is that the new US pier can allow imports/exports without risk of smuggling.

The climate in seaside Gaza is very similar to the climate in San Diego or Los Angeles. Once the terrorists are eliminated Gaza would become some of the most valuable real estate in the world. Billions in investment dollars would flood in.

The UN & the World Bank estimate that it would only cost $18B to completely rebuild Gaza’s critical infrastructure. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are willing to provide these funds as soon as Palestine has a stable government.

The UN believes that another $50B in investment dollars could be pumped into Gaza over the next two decades. These investments would provide a return and create wealth for the Palestinian people rivaling the wealth found just miles away in Israel.

I think real estate development is the ONLY way to build wealth for the Arabs living in the territory. If they don’t make investments to build resorts, hotels, businesses, and housing I don’t think they’ll ever become a real nation.

Israel’s GDP is more than 500 billion dollars per year for a population of 9 million people. A 50 billion dollar investment in Gaza is not going to create an economy rivaling Israel. Gaza will be playing catch up with Israel for a hundred years if not forever.

The problem is Palestine sided with Iran. If they had different support, this would not be an issue. Israel ain’t the Saint but they gotta be what they are where they are with Iran