(May 7, 2023 / JNS) Israeli officials are reportedly engaged in negotiations with Palestinian counterparts over the potential development of natural gas fields off the Gaza coast.

The discussions are being spearheaded by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian—the IDF’s liaison to the Palestinians—with the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Channel 13.

The talks are reportedly centered on the Marine 1 and 2 fields, located approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) off Gaza’s shores.

The matter was reportedly raised during Israeli-Palestinian summits in Aqaba, Jordan, and Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in February and March, respectively.

Following the latter summit, the parties released a joint communique that included a promise to “take the necessary steps towards improving the economic conditions of the Palestinian people,” to “significantly enhance the fiscal situation of the Palestinian National Authority.”

NEWSRAEL: Why would Israel do something like this? The main reason would be that Israel has long ago realized that the rulers in the PA are interested in only one thing: MONEY. The extracting of gas needs tow elements: security and stabiliuty, which is what Israel wants. Since Israel would run and control the gas fields and operations, it would be easy to close the pipes and use that as deterent against Arab violence and terror.