Samir Hulileh, CEO of PADICO, the largest Palestinian holding company. (Photo: Facebook)
Who will rule Gaza after the war has been among the most-discussed questions over the past two years of fighting between Israel and the terror group Hamas.
With the Israeli cabinet decision to take over the rest of the enclave, which will presumably lead to the end of the war, discussions about the issue have restarted.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu avoided straight answers when asked about it earlier this week.
Talking to foreign journalists, the prime minister said he wants “non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration. By that I mean a civilian administration that doesn’t educate its children for terror, doesn’t pay terrorists, and doesn’t launch terrorist attacks against Israel. That’s what we want to see in Gaza.”
“So, it’s neither Hamas nor the PA. That’s our plan,” he said, without giving further details.
However, Ynet News reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration and several other groups have been working to find an answer behind the scenes, and recently tapped a Palestinian businessman with ties to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Gaza after Hamas is removed from power.
According to the report, based on contacts by Israeli pro-democracy NGO Shomrim with people involved in the initiative, Samir Hulileh is the candidate to become Gaza’s governor under the auspices of the Arab League.
Hulileh is said to be acceptable to both Israel as well as the Trump administration.
The trained economist has filled several senior posts in the PA, including secretary-general of the government, deputy minister of economy and trade, chairman of the board at the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute, board member of the Palestine Trade Center, and CEO of PADICO, the largest Palestinian holding company.
Speaking with Ynet, Hulileh confirmed he is working to present himself as a candidate for the role, but noted that the idea came from Ari Ben-Menashe, a controversial lobbyist and former Israeli now living in Canada.
Asked about his opinions regarding the possible end of the war, Hulileh said a ceasefire was essential. “Only then can we talk about post-war Gaza,” he said.
Regarding possible policies, he said he would want to see “at least 600 to 1,000 aid trucks a day” entering the enclave through four to five unrestricted commercial crossings, estimating that reconstruction would require $53 billion in investments from the U.S., EU and the Gulf states.
He also noted that law and order in Gaza would need to be restored by an authority that would be “neither from the Palestinian Authority nor from Hamas,” echoing Netanyahu’s formulation.
At the time, he expressed optimism that the war could be close to an end; however, Israel has since decided to take over the Gaza Strip after Hamas withdrew from the negotiations.
“The plan is to finish the war, not extend it. We think the negotiations should shift to all-or-nothing—end the war and bring all the hostages home at the same time. Only that way,“ Hulileh said.
Ben-Menashe officially registered as a lobbyist for Hulileh in the U.S. several months ago, and told Ynet that his campaign had advanced after meetings with officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Talking to Shomrim, Ben-Menashe argued that the move would benefit Israel, and has at least tacit backing from U.S. officials, as well as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, two leading powers of the Arab League, under whose umbrella Hulileh would govern.
Court documents filed by Ben-Menashe show that he also advocates for U.S. and Arab forces to be stationed in Gaza, UN recognition of a special status for the enclave, leasing land from Egypt for an airport and seaport in the Sinai peninsula, and several other ideas.
