World Bank: Israeli Restrictions Main Factor in Sluggish Palestinian Economy

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The World Bank says the Palestinian economy will likely remain stagnant in 2008, largely due to Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement and trade.

In a report released Sunday, the bank says it expects the economy to shrink, despite serious Palestinian reform efforts, as well as billions of dollars in foreign aid.

In December, donor countries pledged nearly $8 billion ($7.7 billion) in aid to the Palestinians to fund a three-year development plan.

But the lending agency told donor nations in the report that per capita income in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2008 will be static, if not lower.

The report says hundreds of Israeli checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank, as well as the virtual closure of the Gaza Strip following Hamas's violent takeover last year, have taken a huge toll."

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[msmcghee]

1. That's funny.

It's those damned Israeli "restrictions". The fact that there are several armed militias operating from the area attempting to kill Israeli civilians - who can only be stopped by numerous checkpoints, walls, etc. - probably has nothing to do with the sluggish economy. :sarcasm:

[oberliner]

2. So much depends on the stubborness of the leaders in the region

It doesn't have to be like this.

Compromise is the path to peace and prosperity for the Palestinians and the Israelis.

[Vegasaurus]

3. And compromise will include accepting that Israel exists

not constant threats to annihilate the country, all of its inhabitants, and the rest of the Jews worldwide (at least that is Nazrallah's point of view; Hamas seems more concerned with ridding the region of Israel).

[Scurrilous]

4. Mideast envoy calls on Israel to lift key West Bank roadblocks

<snip>

"Middle East envoy Tony Blair has drawn up a list of West Bank travel and trade restrictions that he wants Israel to remove to bolster peace talks with the Palestinians, officials briefed on the document said on Monday.

The list calls for the removal of a number of key roadblocks, including one near the settlement of Beit El that restricts Palestinian travel to and from the West Bank city of Ramallah, where President Mahmoud Abbas' government is based, the officials said on condition of anonymity.

The list is the first of its kind by the former British prime minister since world powers appointed him last June to spearhead efforts to revive the Palestinian economy.

Citing Israel's restrictions, the World Bank cautioned this week that per capita income in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank in 2008 would be static, if not lower, despite $7.7 billion in aid pledged to the Palestinians in December."

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