Abbas Asks Russia for Billion Dollar Gas Project Off Gaza Coast

Palestinian Authority  chairman Mahmoud Abbas asked Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Thursday to invest in a $1 billion natural gas project off the coast of Hamas-controlled Gaza, Russia’s news agency reported.

Abbas is vesting Moscow, which has been a strong backer of the Palestinian Authority.

Securing a huge investment for Gaza would help Abbas win popularity at the expense of Hamas, which took over the area in a bloody militia war nearly seven years ago.