8 feb 2015
The Palestinian economy should be improved through better domestic production and not through donations alone, Turkish and Palestinian economy ministers said Saturday. "The most important thing we must do for Palestine is this: 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.' That's how we look at Palestine," Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said at the Palestine Business Forum held in Istanbul.
The minister said that he would like to see Palestine "back on its feet," and "reach a state where it can rebuild itself."
"I want people, especially young people, children and girls to have a future. If the young people (in Palestine) do not have a dream about the future, then there is only one thing left: violence," he said.
To this end, Zeybekci said Turkey is ready to abolish visas for Palestinian businessmen.
"It is not appropriate to ask for a visa from Palestinian businessmen who want to come to Turkey. We will do whatever it takes to put an end to this."
Zeybekci also underlined the importance of increasing the trade volume between the two countries, and in particular, the volume of imported goods from Palestine.
"Right now, Turkey exports $280 million worth of goods to Palestine whereas the imports are only worth $5 million. This must change," Zeybekci said, adding that Turkey would like to help reverse this trend.
"We already have a free trade agreement between us, and we are ready to do whatever we can to extend its scope," he said.
Palestine's Minister of National Economy and Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa said for his part that they need to strengthen the country's economy, and increase the share of the national industry from 13 percent to 25 percent of the economy.
"There has been an increase in unemployment and a drop in national income since we are dependent on Israel. So we need to strengthen our national economy," he said, adding that this must not be achieved through donations, but through domestic production.
Mustafa said that the Palestinian government was also working to "integrate Gaza back in the national economy," as it had a "significant share prior to Israel's embargo."
"Israel does not let us rebuild Gaza, but we won't give up. We will rebuild Gaza despite all the difficulties."
The minister also vowed to rebuild Al-Quds, another name for Jerusalem.
"Likewise, the economy of Al-Quds is also under Israeli embargo. Al-Quds is the capital of the Palestinian state. And its economy is the economy of the Palestinian state. Therefore, we will rebuild it just like we will Gaza," he said.-
The minister said that he would like to see Palestine "back on its feet," and "reach a state where it can rebuild itself."
"I want people, especially young people, children and girls to have a future. If the young people (in Palestine) do not have a dream about the future, then there is only one thing left: violence," he said.
To this end, Zeybekci said Turkey is ready to abolish visas for Palestinian businessmen.
"It is not appropriate to ask for a visa from Palestinian businessmen who want to come to Turkey. We will do whatever it takes to put an end to this."
Zeybekci also underlined the importance of increasing the trade volume between the two countries, and in particular, the volume of imported goods from Palestine.
"Right now, Turkey exports $280 million worth of goods to Palestine whereas the imports are only worth $5 million. This must change," Zeybekci said, adding that Turkey would like to help reverse this trend.
"We already have a free trade agreement between us, and we are ready to do whatever we can to extend its scope," he said.
Palestine's Minister of National Economy and Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa said for his part that they need to strengthen the country's economy, and increase the share of the national industry from 13 percent to 25 percent of the economy.
"There has been an increase in unemployment and a drop in national income since we are dependent on Israel. So we need to strengthen our national economy," he said, adding that this must not be achieved through donations, but through domestic production.
Mustafa said that the Palestinian government was also working to "integrate Gaza back in the national economy," as it had a "significant share prior to Israel's embargo."
"Israel does not let us rebuild Gaza, but we won't give up. We will rebuild Gaza despite all the difficulties."
The minister also vowed to rebuild Al-Quds, another name for Jerusalem.
"Likewise, the economy of Al-Quds is also under Israeli embargo. Al-Quds is the capital of the Palestinian state. And its economy is the economy of the Palestinian state. Therefore, we will rebuild it just like we will Gaza," he said.-
The Palestinian Environment Quality Authority said, on Saturday, that any individual found responsible for exporting hazardous waste from Israel to Palestinian lands will be sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor.
The warning comes amid increasing concern over Israeli company policies of dumping toxic materials in Palestinian-controlled areas of the occupied West Bank, with Israeli government complicity and the use of local Palestinian collaborators, Ma'an News Agency reports.
The Environment Quality Authority, also known as the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, is attempting to put an end to all forms of Israeli violations against the Palestinian environment.
The authority called on Palestinians to cooperate with the authority, in order to support its push for a safe and clean environment for all.
The statement comes in response to the recent discovery by customs police of a truck carrying Israeli asbestos waste to dump in Tulkarem.
Israeli businesses located in Jewish-only settlements of the West Bank regularly dump their waste in rivers or in public areas that flow down and negatively affect the environment of nearby Palestinian villages.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that settlements are generally located on hills, above pre-existing towns.
While Israeli authorities enforce relatively restrictive laws against the destruction of the environment inside Israel, many factories have moved to West Bank settlements because the authorities there are lax in enforcement and Palestinian authorities are helpless to stop them.
See also: 01/13/15 PA Signs Environmental Treaties in Response to Gross Israeli Violations
The warning comes amid increasing concern over Israeli company policies of dumping toxic materials in Palestinian-controlled areas of the occupied West Bank, with Israeli government complicity and the use of local Palestinian collaborators, Ma'an News Agency reports.
The Environment Quality Authority, also known as the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, is attempting to put an end to all forms of Israeli violations against the Palestinian environment.
The authority called on Palestinians to cooperate with the authority, in order to support its push for a safe and clean environment for all.
The statement comes in response to the recent discovery by customs police of a truck carrying Israeli asbestos waste to dump in Tulkarem.
Israeli businesses located in Jewish-only settlements of the West Bank regularly dump their waste in rivers or in public areas that flow down and negatively affect the environment of nearby Palestinian villages.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that settlements are generally located on hills, above pre-existing towns.
While Israeli authorities enforce relatively restrictive laws against the destruction of the environment inside Israel, many factories have moved to West Bank settlements because the authorities there are lax in enforcement and Palestinian authorities are helpless to stop them.
See also: 01/13/15 PA Signs Environmental Treaties in Response to Gross Israeli Violations
7 feb 2015
Research institutions and economists said that "Israel misappropriates at least 6 billion dollars of the West Bank resources; oil, gas, marble, rare minerals from the Dead Sea, as well as agriculture and tourism activity."
In October 2013, a study issued by The World Bank indicated that the Palestinian economy lost about 75 billion dollars throughout 22 years of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations as a result of preventing the Palestinians from exploiting the lands known as the (C) areas, and that Israel controls 46% of the Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP). According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the real GDP in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was 7.3 billion dollars last year.
The World Bank further said that Israel and Jordan together gain about 4.2 billion dollars from the annual sales of the Dead Sea products which comprise 6% of the world's supply of potash and 73% of the world's production of bromine whereas the Palestinians are completely prevented from utilizing their rightful resources, bearing in mind that one-third of the western shore of the Dead Sea lies in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
After Oslo Accords in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the West Bank was divided into three areas: A, B and C; the A areas 18% of the West Bank are under full control of the Palestinian Authority (PA), B areas, 20% of the West Bank, are under a joint control of Israel and PA, and the C areas, 60% of the West Bank, are under Israeli security and civil control. 400,000 Israeli settlers live in the (C) areas along with 150,000 Palestinians prevented from building or investing.
Adel Shadid, a researcher in Israeli affairs, said in a statement that "the Israeli negotiator bore in mind the economic considerations when the occupied West Bank areas were divided by Oslo Accords."
Oslo Accords state that by 1998 the (C) areas will have been under a full PA control, but that never happened and the number of settlers in that area has notably increased.
Two years ago, a study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimated the annual loss of the Palestinian economy at 6 billion dollars at the very least.
Sha'wan Jabarin, head of Palestinian al-Haq Foundation, an independent human rights group, said that if the Palestinians were given the chance to utilize the West Bank resources, they would be providing aid to the poor countries instead of depending on foreign and Arab donors to bridge the Palestinian budget deficit which amounted to 1.3 billion dollars last year amid expectations that it will reach 2 billion dollars in 2015.
Dr. Samir Abdullah, the former Palestinian minister of planning, said that the Israeli settlements project is aimed at stealing the Palestinian resources and forcing the indigenous people to migrate other than luring aid from the Zionist groups around the world. He added that settlements’ control over the surface and groundwater aquifers in the West Bank obstructed the development of all the Palestinian economic sectors.
In November 2013, the Palestinian government announced an international tender to explore oil and gas in the West Bank, and re-announced it in March 2014 but the Israeli obstacles prevented the process.
Moreover, the Israeli occupation prevents the Palestinians from opening new quarries and at the same time encourages the Israeli companies to do so, whereas the international law prohibits the occupying power from exploiting the natural resources of the occupied territories.
The harsh living conditions and the high unemployment rates among graduates forced 30,000 Palestinians to work in the industrial and agricultural settlements, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
In October 2013, a study issued by The World Bank indicated that the Palestinian economy lost about 75 billion dollars throughout 22 years of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations as a result of preventing the Palestinians from exploiting the lands known as the (C) areas, and that Israel controls 46% of the Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP). According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the real GDP in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was 7.3 billion dollars last year.
The World Bank further said that Israel and Jordan together gain about 4.2 billion dollars from the annual sales of the Dead Sea products which comprise 6% of the world's supply of potash and 73% of the world's production of bromine whereas the Palestinians are completely prevented from utilizing their rightful resources, bearing in mind that one-third of the western shore of the Dead Sea lies in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
After Oslo Accords in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the West Bank was divided into three areas: A, B and C; the A areas 18% of the West Bank are under full control of the Palestinian Authority (PA), B areas, 20% of the West Bank, are under a joint control of Israel and PA, and the C areas, 60% of the West Bank, are under Israeli security and civil control. 400,000 Israeli settlers live in the (C) areas along with 150,000 Palestinians prevented from building or investing.
Adel Shadid, a researcher in Israeli affairs, said in a statement that "the Israeli negotiator bore in mind the economic considerations when the occupied West Bank areas were divided by Oslo Accords."
Oslo Accords state that by 1998 the (C) areas will have been under a full PA control, but that never happened and the number of settlers in that area has notably increased.
Two years ago, a study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimated the annual loss of the Palestinian economy at 6 billion dollars at the very least.
Sha'wan Jabarin, head of Palestinian al-Haq Foundation, an independent human rights group, said that if the Palestinians were given the chance to utilize the West Bank resources, they would be providing aid to the poor countries instead of depending on foreign and Arab donors to bridge the Palestinian budget deficit which amounted to 1.3 billion dollars last year amid expectations that it will reach 2 billion dollars in 2015.
Dr. Samir Abdullah, the former Palestinian minister of planning, said that the Israeli settlements project is aimed at stealing the Palestinian resources and forcing the indigenous people to migrate other than luring aid from the Zionist groups around the world. He added that settlements’ control over the surface and groundwater aquifers in the West Bank obstructed the development of all the Palestinian economic sectors.
In November 2013, the Palestinian government announced an international tender to explore oil and gas in the West Bank, and re-announced it in March 2014 but the Israeli obstacles prevented the process.
Moreover, the Israeli occupation prevents the Palestinians from opening new quarries and at the same time encourages the Israeli companies to do so, whereas the international law prohibits the occupying power from exploiting the natural resources of the occupied territories.
The harsh living conditions and the high unemployment rates among graduates forced 30,000 Palestinians to work in the industrial and agricultural settlements, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
4 feb 2015
Cleaning companies at hospitals in Gaza threatened to go on a labor strike in health facilities in the coming week. The strike aims at protesting the failure of the unity government to fulfill its promises to end the financial crisis.
Cleaning companies in Gaza have not been receiving salaries from the Ministry of Health since the Palestinian consensus government took over last July. This has recently led to labor strike which resulted in a health crisis at hospitals before the companies resumed work based on promises made by the Ministry to pay their salaries.
The spokesman of the Ministry Ashraf al-Qudrah warned, in a statement, of the dangerous consequences of the strike affecting the entire health sector.
He demanded the competent authorities to rectify the crisis, calling for concerted efforts for the protection of the patients’ therapeutic rights.
Qudrah urged the unity government to work hard and soon for ending the cleaning companies’ crisis in accordance with what have been agreed upon during the ministers’ visit to Gaza Strip.
Cleaning companies in Gaza have not been receiving salaries from the Ministry of Health since the Palestinian consensus government took over last July. This has recently led to labor strike which resulted in a health crisis at hospitals before the companies resumed work based on promises made by the Ministry to pay their salaries.
The spokesman of the Ministry Ashraf al-Qudrah warned, in a statement, of the dangerous consequences of the strike affecting the entire health sector.
He demanded the competent authorities to rectify the crisis, calling for concerted efforts for the protection of the patients’ therapeutic rights.
Qudrah urged the unity government to work hard and soon for ending the cleaning companies’ crisis in accordance with what have been agreed upon during the ministers’ visit to Gaza Strip.
2 feb 2015
A number of ecologists voiced deep concern that a solemn ecological disequilibrium would contaminate cities of the West Bank due to the mounds of germ-infested trash piled up by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Scores of Israeli landowners have reportedly been dumping their industrial garbage into the West Bank, taking advantage of cut-rate costs and easy transportation amenities.
What has added fuel to fire, some ecologists would maintain, is the fact that Israel never resorted to waste treatment procedures to ensure that the thrown trash has the least anti-hygienic impact on the environment.
Activist Mohamed Shebita referred to the trash heap rocking the West Bank towns of Azzoun and Jayous as the most notorious, yet conclusive proofs of Israel’s exploitation of the occupied Palestinian territories as disposal areas.
“Hundreds of tons of Israeli toxic litter, most notably lead and zinc, among other hazardous radioactive substances, have been heaped up across the West Bank for years now,” he said.
Several medical and biology check-ups conducted over the past few years provide evidence for the inherently noxious essence of such chemical substances and their impact on Azzoun's sole groundwater supply, the activist elaborated.
Locals raised alarm bells over the malevolent nature with which such Israeli pollutants are deposited into the West Bank by gangs residing in 1948 Occupied Palestine in collusion with West Bank-based contractors.
“The 1999 Environmental Law prohibits dumping toxic waste into the occupied Palestinian territories, unless otherwise authorized,” environment activist Ahmad Hamad said.
“This is a crime liable to be punished by life-imprisonment and hard labor. But authorities have been turning blind eyes and deaf ears to any such violations,” he added.
According to data released by the Israeli Ministry of Environment, the amount of toxic waste over the past few years has gone far beyond 328 thousand tons per annum, about two-thirds of which have reportedly been deposited in the occupied West Bank, ecologist Georges Karzam further warned.
Scores of Israeli landowners have reportedly been dumping their industrial garbage into the West Bank, taking advantage of cut-rate costs and easy transportation amenities.
What has added fuel to fire, some ecologists would maintain, is the fact that Israel never resorted to waste treatment procedures to ensure that the thrown trash has the least anti-hygienic impact on the environment.
Activist Mohamed Shebita referred to the trash heap rocking the West Bank towns of Azzoun and Jayous as the most notorious, yet conclusive proofs of Israel’s exploitation of the occupied Palestinian territories as disposal areas.
“Hundreds of tons of Israeli toxic litter, most notably lead and zinc, among other hazardous radioactive substances, have been heaped up across the West Bank for years now,” he said.
Several medical and biology check-ups conducted over the past few years provide evidence for the inherently noxious essence of such chemical substances and their impact on Azzoun's sole groundwater supply, the activist elaborated.
Locals raised alarm bells over the malevolent nature with which such Israeli pollutants are deposited into the West Bank by gangs residing in 1948 Occupied Palestine in collusion with West Bank-based contractors.
“The 1999 Environmental Law prohibits dumping toxic waste into the occupied Palestinian territories, unless otherwise authorized,” environment activist Ahmad Hamad said.
“This is a crime liable to be punished by life-imprisonment and hard labor. But authorities have been turning blind eyes and deaf ears to any such violations,” he added.
According to data released by the Israeli Ministry of Environment, the amount of toxic waste over the past few years has gone far beyond 328 thousand tons per annum, about two-thirds of which have reportedly been deposited in the occupied West Bank, ecologist Georges Karzam further warned.
29 jan 2015
Israeli bulldozers, on Thursday, destroyed a water pipe being used in connecting the West Tubas district's Atoof village with Khirbet Yezra, in the northern Jordan Valley.
Head of Al-Maleh local council, Aaref Daraghmeh, said that the pipe had length of 1,000 meters, and was donated by Agricultural Relief to provide the residents of Yezra with water, since the area has no water sources.
According to the PNN, Dr. Hanna Issa, professor and expert on international law, strongly condemned the action, saying that occupation authorities provide settlers with water, while depriving Palestinians of their own sources.
Settlers in the occupied West Bank reportedly get an unlimited supply of water amounting to about four times more than Palestinians' consumption of water.
Issa added that occupation authorities consume about 80% of the mutual water wells, despite the fact that 80-95% of them are located in Palestinian areas, pointing out that this is water theft, and in contravention of international law.
Issa also stressed that Israel has continuously implemented a policy of displacing Palestinians, separating them from homes near water sources.
Israel also prevents Palestinians from digging wells without military permission, while giving privilege to all illegal settlers.
Issa reiterated that Israel was an occupying power and had no sovereignty to tamper with water sources, according to the fourth Geneva convention.
He also demanded Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian land, according to UN Resolution 242 (1967) and Resolution 338 (1973).
Head of Al-Maleh local council, Aaref Daraghmeh, said that the pipe had length of 1,000 meters, and was donated by Agricultural Relief to provide the residents of Yezra with water, since the area has no water sources.
According to the PNN, Dr. Hanna Issa, professor and expert on international law, strongly condemned the action, saying that occupation authorities provide settlers with water, while depriving Palestinians of their own sources.
Settlers in the occupied West Bank reportedly get an unlimited supply of water amounting to about four times more than Palestinians' consumption of water.
Issa added that occupation authorities consume about 80% of the mutual water wells, despite the fact that 80-95% of them are located in Palestinian areas, pointing out that this is water theft, and in contravention of international law.
Issa also stressed that Israel has continuously implemented a policy of displacing Palestinians, separating them from homes near water sources.
Israel also prevents Palestinians from digging wells without military permission, while giving privilege to all illegal settlers.
Issa reiterated that Israel was an occupying power and had no sovereignty to tamper with water sources, according to the fourth Geneva convention.
He also demanded Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian land, according to UN Resolution 242 (1967) and Resolution 338 (1973).
The Israeli electric corporation threatened to decrease power supplies to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip because of the failure of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to pay its accumulative debts.
According to the state-owned company, the reduction of power will start as of Thursday, January 29, following months of warnings sent to the PA in this regard to urge it to pay an electricity bill of more than 1.5 billion shekels.
CEO of the company Eli Glickman had told premier Benjamin Netanyahu that his company would have to limit electricity to PA-controlled areas in the West Bank and Gaza because of a considerable amount of unpaid debts.
According to the state-owned company, the reduction of power will start as of Thursday, January 29, following months of warnings sent to the PA in this regard to urge it to pay an electricity bill of more than 1.5 billion shekels.
CEO of the company Eli Glickman had told premier Benjamin Netanyahu that his company would have to limit electricity to PA-controlled areas in the West Bank and Gaza because of a considerable amount of unpaid debts.
27 jan 2015
Ministry of Agriculture in Gaza demanded the protection of Palestinian fishermen. It condemned the latest Israeli aggressive action of kidnapping four fishermen and sinking their boat on Tuesday, to the north of Gaza city.
The ministry said, in a statement, the Israeli occupation bears the responsibility of the lives of the four kidnapped Palestinians. It also demanded their immediate release along with returning back the boats and other fishing tools that have been lately confiscated.
The statement said Israel has been harassing the Gazan people over the only source of living left for them.
The ministry called on the international and human rights organizations to urgently intervene to provide protection for Palestinian fishermen in Gaza.
The statement also referred to the daily violations and tightening measures of the Israeli occupation in Gaza. It mentioned firing machineguns at the fishing boats, arresting fishermen, bargaining them to work as agents for Israel and preventing them of fishing, which all run contrary to human rights.
“The Israeli occupation authority by its daily aggressive actions confirms the continuation of naval blockade on Gaza Strip. International campaigns for lifting the siege on Gaza is a must”, the statement said.
The ministry pointed out that 48,500 Palestinians depend on fishing as the only source of living.
The ministry said, in a statement, the Israeli occupation bears the responsibility of the lives of the four kidnapped Palestinians. It also demanded their immediate release along with returning back the boats and other fishing tools that have been lately confiscated.
The statement said Israel has been harassing the Gazan people over the only source of living left for them.
The ministry called on the international and human rights organizations to urgently intervene to provide protection for Palestinian fishermen in Gaza.
The statement also referred to the daily violations and tightening measures of the Israeli occupation in Gaza. It mentioned firing machineguns at the fishing boats, arresting fishermen, bargaining them to work as agents for Israel and preventing them of fishing, which all run contrary to human rights.
“The Israeli occupation authority by its daily aggressive actions confirms the continuation of naval blockade on Gaza Strip. International campaigns for lifting the siege on Gaza is a must”, the statement said.
The ministry pointed out that 48,500 Palestinians depend on fishing as the only source of living.
Hundreds of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, on Monday, participated in protests organized by the Fateh movement, calling for a boycott of Israeli products and expressing support for Palestinian officials.
Ma'an reports that, in Ramallah, hundreds gathered at al-Manara Square in protest of Israel's decision to freeze tax funds owed to the Palestinian Authority.
Jamal Muheisen, a member of Fateh's Central Committee, said that Israel "should not be allowed to steal our money and gain profits by selling their products in our markets."
"Despite several boycotting campaigns there are still Israeli products in our markets," Muheisen said. "Our merchants and officials should not allow this to continue."
He told Ma'an that the marches were organized in order to increase support for Palestine's international political actions, referring to UN Security Council resolutions and Palestinian membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Another Fateh Central Committee member, Mahmoud al-Alul, said that the protests were sending a message to the world that Palestinians supported their leaders.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians in Hebron also participated in protest marches. Hebron governor Kamel Hmeid and local Fateh officials joined in the march.
Similar protests were held in Tubas.
Fateh spokesman Ahmad Assaf said the protests sent the message that Palestinians supported President Mahmoud Abbas.
He added that popular resistance and the boycott of Israeli products should be escalated.
Abbas, himself a Fateh member, has repeatedly said that he does not support the boycott of Israeli products.
Ma'an reports that, in Ramallah, hundreds gathered at al-Manara Square in protest of Israel's decision to freeze tax funds owed to the Palestinian Authority.
Jamal Muheisen, a member of Fateh's Central Committee, said that Israel "should not be allowed to steal our money and gain profits by selling their products in our markets."
"Despite several boycotting campaigns there are still Israeli products in our markets," Muheisen said. "Our merchants and officials should not allow this to continue."
He told Ma'an that the marches were organized in order to increase support for Palestine's international political actions, referring to UN Security Council resolutions and Palestinian membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Another Fateh Central Committee member, Mahmoud al-Alul, said that the protests were sending a message to the world that Palestinians supported their leaders.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians in Hebron also participated in protest marches. Hebron governor Kamel Hmeid and local Fateh officials joined in the march.
Similar protests were held in Tubas.
Fateh spokesman Ahmad Assaf said the protests sent the message that Palestinians supported President Mahmoud Abbas.
He added that popular resistance and the boycott of Israeli products should be escalated.
Abbas, himself a Fateh member, has repeatedly said that he does not support the boycott of Israeli products.
26 jan 2015
The Palestinian economic expert, Dr. Maher Taba’a, criticized allowing the marketing of Israeli soft drinks and juices in Gaza Strip after being banned for 5 years, warning that it would negatively affect the Palestinian already "collapsed" economy.
In an exclusive interview with Quds Press, he said that allowing Israeli products’ access into the Strip means cancelling the import restrictions policy that was followed by the economy ministry along the past few years in a bid to encourage domestic products.
“The PA decision to allow Israeli products into Gaza Strip contradicts with the boycott campaigns that represent a form of peaceful resistance against the occupation who continues to usurp our lands and holy sites.”
He also warned that the very high fees imposed on Israeli products would harm the purchasing power of the consumer in Gaza Strip in light of the prevailing poor living conditions.
After a five-year ban, the PA has allowed Israeli soft drinks and juices’ access into Gaza Strip.
In an exclusive interview with Quds Press, he said that allowing Israeli products’ access into the Strip means cancelling the import restrictions policy that was followed by the economy ministry along the past few years in a bid to encourage domestic products.
“The PA decision to allow Israeli products into Gaza Strip contradicts with the boycott campaigns that represent a form of peaceful resistance against the occupation who continues to usurp our lands and holy sites.”
He also warned that the very high fees imposed on Israeli products would harm the purchasing power of the consumer in Gaza Strip in light of the prevailing poor living conditions.
After a five-year ban, the PA has allowed Israeli soft drinks and juices’ access into Gaza Strip.
25 jan 2015
Gaza's Ministry of Economy said Sunday that it would allow the entry of Israeli products into the Gaza Strip for the first time in five years.
Imad al-Baz, assistant deputy of the ministry, said soft drinks, clothes, coffee, and other Israeli goods would be allowed into the Strip.
"The last war led to the destruction of thousands of factories, which affected the production power (in Gaza), and to fill that gap we decided to allow Zionist products in," al-Baz said.
"The war damaged the production ability of factories and the nature and quality of the product, because some raw materials are not allowed in" due to the blockade.
"We decided to allow (Israeli) products to enter so that the market is not hindered and so products are available," al-Baz added.
The Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza severely limits imports and exports and has led to frequent humanitarian crises for Palestinians in the Strip.
Imad al-Baz, assistant deputy of the ministry, said soft drinks, clothes, coffee, and other Israeli goods would be allowed into the Strip.
"The last war led to the destruction of thousands of factories, which affected the production power (in Gaza), and to fill that gap we decided to allow Zionist products in," al-Baz said.
"The war damaged the production ability of factories and the nature and quality of the product, because some raw materials are not allowed in" due to the blockade.
"We decided to allow (Israeli) products to enter so that the market is not hindered and so products are available," al-Baz added.
The Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza severely limits imports and exports and has led to frequent humanitarian crises for Palestinians in the Strip.
22 jan 2015
A
Palestinian boy covers his head to warm up as he walks amid the
rubble of buildings that were destroyed by Israel over the summer, on
Jan. 8, 2015, in Beit Hanoun
Palestinian teacher Abdelhakim Abu Jamus has just given the last of his shekels, to pay for his daughter's schooling, and now has nothing left to feed his family of eight.
According to AFP/Ma'an, like tens of thousands of Palestinian public sector workers, Abdelhakim has not been paid since December, after Israel suspended millions of dollars in tax revenues which should have been transferred to the Palestinian Authority, as punishment for joining the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"I gave my daughter the last money I had and, now, I don't know how we're going to manage tomorrow," said Abu Jamus, who not only teaches but, in fact, runs a school in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
On January 2, the Palestinians formally presented a request to join the Hague-based ICC in a first step towards suing Israel for war crimes.
Palestine is slated to join the ICC on April 1st, according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Israel reacted by freezing $127 million in tax revenues that, by law, must be transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) -- a move often employed as a punitive measure during diplomatic disputes.
Furthermore, under an economic agreement between the sides, signed in 1994, Israel transfers to the PA tens of millions of dollars, each month, in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets which transit through Israeli ports.
Although the sanction has been imposed many times, it has rarely lasted more than one or two months, except in 2006 when Hamas won a landslide victory in Palestinian legislative elections.
Israel froze the funds for six months, on this occasion.
Blocking this money deprives the PA of more than two-thirds of its monthly budget, excluding foreign aid, and prevents it from paying the wages of some 180,000 employees of almost $200 million a month, total.
"We know very well that Israel freezes the money for political reasons to put pressure on the Authority, but as civil servants we need to see the situation resolved quickly," Abu Jamus said.
Dalal Yassin, who works for Palestinian television, has also suffered a wage loss since Israel imposed the freeze.
But, she is in a better position than most, because her husband works in the private sector.
"I see my colleagues struggling to pay their monthly bills and going through a really difficult time," she told AFP.
The Palestinian government has reportedly managed to raise enough funds to start paying 60 percent of the December salaries through loans, Arab aid and its own resources.
Ramallah shopowner Yasser Mussa is hoping the partial payment of salaries will mean that some of his customers will pay off their outstanding debts.
"Every month, we extend credit to our clients, but, this time, the salaries have not been paid at the same time as a major storm hit the region and we have had to sell many products on credit," he said.
Ahead of a major winter storm, earlier this month, many Palestinians bought heaters to combat a cold snap which has only just begun to ease.
Arab foreign ministers have promised to provide Palestinians with a monthly "safety net" of $100 million, but the commitment has rarely been activated.
The funds could offer vital assistance for the PA, economist Nasser Abdelkarim said.
"Since the Second Intifada (the Palestinian uprising in 2000-2005), the economy has experience a major downturn," he said, with about 140,000 Palestinians who previously worked inside Israel losing their jobs.
In order to counter the soaring unemployment rate, the Palestinian public sector enlarged its ranks -- and, with it, its monthly spending on salaries.
However, the Palestinian government is facing an even larger employee-related problem than the salary freeze.
In 2007, when Hamas seized power in Gaza, forcing out forces loyal to the Fateh movement of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, roughly 70,000 government employees were left jobless. The 70,000 continue to be paid their salaries by the PA, however, despite not working.
Hamas then took on 50,000 new workers who have served the Gaza administration for the past seven years.
Since a national unity government took office in June, ending seven years of separate administrations in the West Bank and Gaza, Hamas employees have still not been paid.
News that the consensus government plans to rehire the 70,000 staff who were employed before 2007, in place of the Hamas workers, has sparked a series of angry protests and strikes.
The dispute threatens a fragile reconciliation deal between Fateh and Hamas which took effect last April, and led to the establishment of the unity government.
Palestinian teacher Abdelhakim Abu Jamus has just given the last of his shekels, to pay for his daughter's schooling, and now has nothing left to feed his family of eight.
According to AFP/Ma'an, like tens of thousands of Palestinian public sector workers, Abdelhakim has not been paid since December, after Israel suspended millions of dollars in tax revenues which should have been transferred to the Palestinian Authority, as punishment for joining the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"I gave my daughter the last money I had and, now, I don't know how we're going to manage tomorrow," said Abu Jamus, who not only teaches but, in fact, runs a school in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
On January 2, the Palestinians formally presented a request to join the Hague-based ICC in a first step towards suing Israel for war crimes.
Palestine is slated to join the ICC on April 1st, according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Israel reacted by freezing $127 million in tax revenues that, by law, must be transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) -- a move often employed as a punitive measure during diplomatic disputes.
Furthermore, under an economic agreement between the sides, signed in 1994, Israel transfers to the PA tens of millions of dollars, each month, in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets which transit through Israeli ports.
Although the sanction has been imposed many times, it has rarely lasted more than one or two months, except in 2006 when Hamas won a landslide victory in Palestinian legislative elections.
Israel froze the funds for six months, on this occasion.
Blocking this money deprives the PA of more than two-thirds of its monthly budget, excluding foreign aid, and prevents it from paying the wages of some 180,000 employees of almost $200 million a month, total.
"We know very well that Israel freezes the money for political reasons to put pressure on the Authority, but as civil servants we need to see the situation resolved quickly," Abu Jamus said.
Dalal Yassin, who works for Palestinian television, has also suffered a wage loss since Israel imposed the freeze.
But, she is in a better position than most, because her husband works in the private sector.
"I see my colleagues struggling to pay their monthly bills and going through a really difficult time," she told AFP.
The Palestinian government has reportedly managed to raise enough funds to start paying 60 percent of the December salaries through loans, Arab aid and its own resources.
Ramallah shopowner Yasser Mussa is hoping the partial payment of salaries will mean that some of his customers will pay off their outstanding debts.
"Every month, we extend credit to our clients, but, this time, the salaries have not been paid at the same time as a major storm hit the region and we have had to sell many products on credit," he said.
Ahead of a major winter storm, earlier this month, many Palestinians bought heaters to combat a cold snap which has only just begun to ease.
Arab foreign ministers have promised to provide Palestinians with a monthly "safety net" of $100 million, but the commitment has rarely been activated.
The funds could offer vital assistance for the PA, economist Nasser Abdelkarim said.
"Since the Second Intifada (the Palestinian uprising in 2000-2005), the economy has experience a major downturn," he said, with about 140,000 Palestinians who previously worked inside Israel losing their jobs.
In order to counter the soaring unemployment rate, the Palestinian public sector enlarged its ranks -- and, with it, its monthly spending on salaries.
However, the Palestinian government is facing an even larger employee-related problem than the salary freeze.
In 2007, when Hamas seized power in Gaza, forcing out forces loyal to the Fateh movement of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, roughly 70,000 government employees were left jobless. The 70,000 continue to be paid their salaries by the PA, however, despite not working.
Hamas then took on 50,000 new workers who have served the Gaza administration for the past seven years.
Since a national unity government took office in June, ending seven years of separate administrations in the West Bank and Gaza, Hamas employees have still not been paid.
News that the consensus government plans to rehire the 70,000 staff who were employed before 2007, in place of the Hamas workers, has sparked a series of angry protests and strikes.
The dispute threatens a fragile reconciliation deal between Fateh and Hamas which took effect last April, and led to the establishment of the unity government.