Wolfensohn Donates More Than $500,000 To Save Hothouses
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
JERUSALEM – As Israel’s military operation in Gaza focused on removing die-hard settlers, a small group of soldiers yesterday moved to secure its economic backbone – hundreds of acres of high-tech hothouses.
Troops were ordered to stop settlers destroying the facilities that produce high-value agricultural products including herbs, vegetables, and flowers.
Despite Gaza’s tough environment – sandy soil and brutally hot summer temperatures – the settlers had developed pioneering techniques for horticulture to create a multimillion dollar industry covering 950 acres.
The owners destroyed 250 acres, but a former president of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, promised to personally contribute more than $500,000 to protect the hothouses and talks were arranged by an Israeli group, the Economic Cooperation Foundation. The Jewish farmers agreed to sell the remaining 700 for about $14 million on top of the 60% compensation.
The donation of Mr. Wolfensohn, the international envoy ensuring that the Gaza withdrawal goes smoothly, had been topped up by other Jewish-American benefactors.
Last night the hothouses were secured for transfer to the Palestinian Authority when it takes control of Gaza.
