Israeli lawyer Shraga Biran has revealed his vision for rebuilding Gaza and creating a “New Middle East,” as he claims. At the heart of his proposal lies an unlikely collaboration between China and the United States. Although it may seem implausible, Biran is actively pursuing this vision, leveraging his wealth and connections to promote it.
Biran, who turns 92 this year, claims to “look beyond the horizon” and predict the future of a truly new Middle East—not the utopian version once suggested by Shimon Peres, but one that could emerge soon from the ruins of the current, collapsing region. He emphasizes that this vision hinges on historic cooperation between the two global superpowers, the U.S. and China, through what he calls a “Marshall Plan.” This is a modern adaptation of the historic initiative through which the U.S. rebuilt war-torn Germany after World War II, eradicating Nazism and reintegrating Germany into the global community.
In an interview with Zman Israel, translated by Arabi21, Biran stated, “The time has come to rehabilitate the Middle East through a similar plan, as detailed in my new book, Freeing Gaza: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Fundamentalism. The book, originally published in Hebrew, has been translated into English, French, and Arabic, with a Chinese version forthcoming. It centers on establishing a joint international task force between the rival powers of Washington and Beijing, who govern the current bipolar world order. This summit could deliver a decisive blow to armed groups through an international task force under their leadership, dedicated to rebuilding Gaza and dismantling Hamas’s financial and communication infrastructure.”
A Vision for Gaza’s Reconstruction
Biran’s plan envisions recruiting international economic corporations and foreign investors to implement profitable projects in Gaza in sectors such as gas, electricity, water, infrastructure, finance, housing, healthcare, education, employment, trade centers, and a seaport. These efforts aim to channel support directly to Gaza’s residents through a transitional authority overseeing the region until the reconstruction process is complete.
He acknowledged that “this plan may seem like another unrealistic dream among the many we’ve heard about the ‘day after’ in Gaza.” However, he insists otherwise, claiming that his personal wealth, exceeding one billion shekels, and extensive international connections make the plan viable. Recently, Biran met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to propose a presidential initiative aimed at bringing the U.S. and China together. He also held discussions with Chinese officials, who reportedly expressed significant interest in the idea.
Leveraging Global Powers for Change
Biran argues that implementing this plan might require waiting for Donald Trump to return to office, given the potential he sees in Trump’s policies to execute the vision. Yet, the idea of granting China a foothold in the complex geopolitics of the Middle East has drawn apprehensive reactions. China is often viewed as a shadowy, undemocratic, and authoritarian force that the world should keep at arm’s length. However, Biran rejects this characterization, describing China as a global giant that has demonstrated unparalleled achievements in modern history.
He explained that his proposal for Gaza mirrors a period of mandate governance, akin to the British Mandate, but this time under a joint U.S.-China administration lasting 18 years. Biran envisions that by the end of this period, Gaza would have a revamped healthcare and education system. He elaborated, “Wherever poverty spreads, so does violence, crime, gangs, and even armed resistance. The Chinese understand this reality very well.”
Drawing Inspiration from China’s Success
Biran’s motivation to involve China stems from its sweeping reforms, such as privatizing state-owned housing assets worth $500 billion and transferring them to workers, lifting millions out of extreme poverty. Additionally, China has invested $1 trillion in over 1,000 projects across 150 countries, many in the Middle East, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and even Israel, through infrastructure development.
This ambitious plan is not without its skeptics, but Biran believes that a collaborative international effort, led by the world’s two superpowers, could transform Gaza and potentially chart a new course for the Middle East.
