17 apr 2019
The World Bank said, on Wednesday, the Palestinian economy is now facing a “severe fiscal shock” due to the tax revenues issue with Israel, calling for a speedy resolution.
The published report, prepared by the World Bank, is due to be presented to the The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) at its next meeting on April 30th in Brussels.
Anna Bjerde, the Acting Country Director for West Bank and Gaza, “The economy, which has not experienced real growth in 2018, is now facing a severe fiscal shock due to the Israeli cuts in tax revenues.”
Bjerde stressed the necessity to find an urgent solution to prevent further deterioration of economic activity and living standards.
Bjerde added that “tax revenues is a major source of public budget income and all segments of the population are experiencing the effects of this crisis.”
The World Bank report highlights the major challenges faced by the Palestinian economy, focusing on the effects of restrictions on the entry of dual-use goods, which are essential for production and modern technology, and calls on Israel to reconsider its application of the system.
The report said that “the Palestinian economy has witnessed low growth rates that are unable to cope with population growth, leading to increased unemployment and deteriorating living conditions.”
According to the report, the Palestinian economy saw "no real growth" the last 12 months, with Gaza's economy contracting by some 7% and the West Bank also underperforming. Thus, the World Bank called on Israel to ease dual-use restrictions, which could bring additional 6% growth to the West Bank economy and 11% to the Gaza Strip by 2025.
The Palestinian economy "is now facing a severe fiscal shock" due of the impasse over Israel withholding tax revenues that the Palestinian Authority (PA) pays to Palestinian prisoners and to the families of killed Palestinians as salaries.
The World Bank report said, "If not resolved, the standoff will increase the financing gap from $400 million in 2018 to over $1 billion in 2019."
The published report, prepared by the World Bank, is due to be presented to the The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) at its next meeting on April 30th in Brussels.
Anna Bjerde, the Acting Country Director for West Bank and Gaza, “The economy, which has not experienced real growth in 2018, is now facing a severe fiscal shock due to the Israeli cuts in tax revenues.”
Bjerde stressed the necessity to find an urgent solution to prevent further deterioration of economic activity and living standards.
Bjerde added that “tax revenues is a major source of public budget income and all segments of the population are experiencing the effects of this crisis.”
The World Bank report highlights the major challenges faced by the Palestinian economy, focusing on the effects of restrictions on the entry of dual-use goods, which are essential for production and modern technology, and calls on Israel to reconsider its application of the system.
The report said that “the Palestinian economy has witnessed low growth rates that are unable to cope with population growth, leading to increased unemployment and deteriorating living conditions.”
According to the report, the Palestinian economy saw "no real growth" the last 12 months, with Gaza's economy contracting by some 7% and the West Bank also underperforming. Thus, the World Bank called on Israel to ease dual-use restrictions, which could bring additional 6% growth to the West Bank economy and 11% to the Gaza Strip by 2025.
The Palestinian economy "is now facing a severe fiscal shock" due of the impasse over Israel withholding tax revenues that the Palestinian Authority (PA) pays to Palestinian prisoners and to the families of killed Palestinians as salaries.
The World Bank report said, "If not resolved, the standoff will increase the financing gap from $400 million in 2018 to over $1 billion in 2019."
The Israeli authorities turned hundreds of dunams of Palestinian-owned agricultural lands into a nature reserve in the eastern area of Khirbet Yanoun south of the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus, on Tuesday.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma’an that the Israeli Civil Administration confiscated hundreds of dunams of agricultural Palestinian lands from Khirbet Yanoun under the pretext that they are transferring them into a nature reserve, preventing Palestinians from entering the area.
Daghlas added dozens of Israeli settlers live around the area, pointing out that the confiscation comes as a first step towards the confiscation of more Palestinian-owned lands to serve Israeli settlers in the area.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma’an that the Israeli Civil Administration confiscated hundreds of dunams of agricultural Palestinian lands from Khirbet Yanoun under the pretext that they are transferring them into a nature reserve, preventing Palestinians from entering the area.
Daghlas added dozens of Israeli settlers live around the area, pointing out that the confiscation comes as a first step towards the confiscation of more Palestinian-owned lands to serve Israeli settlers in the area.
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Large numbers of heavily armed Israeli forces raided the Silwan neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, and surrounded several Palestinian-owned structures in preparation for demolition, on Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses told Ma'an that heavily armed Israeli forces, a number of bulldozers, and the Israeli Civil Administration staff raided Silwan and commenced demolition of two Palestinian-owned structures. Sources confirmed that Israeli bulldozers demolished storage warehouses, which belonged to Izz Barqan. Israeli bulldozers also demolished horse stables, which measured 200-square-meters and were built four years ago. The demolished horse stables belonged to Muhammad al-Qaq. Sources added that during the demolition campaign, Israeli forces physically assaulted Silwan residents, including women and children. video Earlier this week, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Palestinian families from Silwan, allowing the demolition of 500 homes and commercial buildings, which were built without an Israeli-issued permit, to take place. The residents built these 500 homes and commercial buildings about 30 years ago without the nearly-impossible to obtain Israeli permit. The Supreme Court’s decision will most probably affect the fates of hundreds of Palestinian families, who will be left homeless following the demolitions. |
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in East Jerusalem, though the Jerusalem municipality has claimed that compared to the Jewish population, they receive a disproportionately low number of permit applications from Palestinian communities, which also see high approval ratings.
For Jewish Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem’s illegal settlements, the planning, marketing, development, and infrastructure are funded and executed by the Israeli government. By contrast, in Palestinian neighborhoods, all the burden falls on individual families to contend with a lengthy permit application that can last several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
For Jewish Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem’s illegal settlements, the planning, marketing, development, and infrastructure are funded and executed by the Israeli government. By contrast, in Palestinian neighborhoods, all the burden falls on individual families to contend with a lengthy permit application that can last several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
16 apr 2019
Palestinian farmers on Tuesday said that Israeli settlers have razed vast tracts of their lands near Ariel settlement, north of Salfit, without prior notice.
The farmers told the PIC reporter that they were allowed access to their lands on Tuesday after a three-day ban by the Israeli authorities and they were shocked to see their lands bulldozed by the settlers.
They added that about 30 dunums of land were bulldozed and the razing has not stopped yet.
Local sources said that the Israeli settlers' recent land-razing operations serve as a prelude to a new plan to build 800 housing units in Ariel settlement, which is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election campaign.
They noted that the settlement expansion activity has been stepped up recently in Ariel. Based on a newly-approved project, Israel has started the construction of several buildings for the Faculty of Medicine at Ariel University, the only university in the West Bank settlements.
The farmers told the PIC reporter that they were allowed access to their lands on Tuesday after a three-day ban by the Israeli authorities and they were shocked to see their lands bulldozed by the settlers.
They added that about 30 dunums of land were bulldozed and the razing has not stopped yet.
Local sources said that the Israeli settlers' recent land-razing operations serve as a prelude to a new plan to build 800 housing units in Ariel settlement, which is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election campaign.
They noted that the settlement expansion activity has been stepped up recently in Ariel. Based on a newly-approved project, Israel has started the construction of several buildings for the Faculty of Medicine at Ariel University, the only university in the West Bank settlements.
Israeli forces targeted Palestinian fishermen and farmers in the southern besieged Gaza Strip, on Tuesday morning.
Eyewitnesses told Ma’an that Israeli naval forces opened heavy fire towards Palestinian fishing boats, within the permitted fishing zone of six nautical miles, off the southern coast of Rafah.
The fishermen were forced to head back to shore in fear for their lives.
No injuries nor detentions were reported.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces also opened fire at Palestinian farmers while working in agricultural lands, east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.
The farmers were also forced to flee the lands in fear for their lives. However, no injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land and sea blockade for nearly 12 years.
Eyewitnesses told Ma’an that Israeli naval forces opened heavy fire towards Palestinian fishing boats, within the permitted fishing zone of six nautical miles, off the southern coast of Rafah.
The fishermen were forced to head back to shore in fear for their lives.
No injuries nor detentions were reported.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces also opened fire at Palestinian farmers while working in agricultural lands, east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.
The farmers were also forced to flee the lands in fear for their lives. However, no injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land and sea blockade for nearly 12 years.
14 apr 2019
A 23-year-old Palestinian fisherman was shot and injured by Israeli naval forces off the northern coast of the besieged Gaza Strip, on Sunday.
Locals told Ma'an that Israeli naval forces opened heavy fire at one of the Palestinian fishing boats while working three nautical miles off the northern coast, which is within the permitted fishing zone, and injured a fisherman.
Sources said that the fisherman was injured with rubber-coated steel bullets in his neck and back.
The fisherman, whose identity remained unknown, was taken to al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, to receive necessary medical treatment.
His medical condition was described as moderate.
As part of Israel's blockade of the coastal enclave, the Israeli army, citing security concerns, requires Palestinian fishermen to work within a limited "designated fishing zone," the exact limits of which are decided by the Israeli authorities and have historically fluctuated.
Palestinian fishermen, who try to make a living off the shores of the blockaded coastal enclave face daily risks, including routine harassment from Israeli naval forces, confiscation of boats and materials, detention and live fire.
Local rights organization, Al-Haq, has documented many cases of Israeli aggression toward Palestinian fishermen off the Gazan coast, calling the Israel's action against the fishermen "collective punishment" that imposes "difficult economic and social conditions."
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
OCHA found that the blockade has seriously undermined the ability for Gazan fishermen to make a living at sea.
Locals told Ma'an that Israeli naval forces opened heavy fire at one of the Palestinian fishing boats while working three nautical miles off the northern coast, which is within the permitted fishing zone, and injured a fisherman.
Sources said that the fisherman was injured with rubber-coated steel bullets in his neck and back.
The fisherman, whose identity remained unknown, was taken to al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, to receive necessary medical treatment.
His medical condition was described as moderate.
As part of Israel's blockade of the coastal enclave, the Israeli army, citing security concerns, requires Palestinian fishermen to work within a limited "designated fishing zone," the exact limits of which are decided by the Israeli authorities and have historically fluctuated.
Palestinian fishermen, who try to make a living off the shores of the blockaded coastal enclave face daily risks, including routine harassment from Israeli naval forces, confiscation of boats and materials, detention and live fire.
Local rights organization, Al-Haq, has documented many cases of Israeli aggression toward Palestinian fishermen off the Gazan coast, calling the Israel's action against the fishermen "collective punishment" that imposes "difficult economic and social conditions."
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
OCHA found that the blockade has seriously undermined the ability for Gazan fishermen to make a living at sea.
13 apr 2019
Israeli forces repeatedly opened fire, on Saturday morning, towards agricultural lands and open fields, in the southern besieged Gaza Strip.
According to local sources, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers while working in their lands, east of Khuzaa town, in the eastern Khan Younis district, in southern Gaza.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land, and sea blockade for nearly 12 years.
According to local sources, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers while working in their lands, east of Khuzaa town, in the eastern Khan Younis district, in southern Gaza.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land, and sea blockade for nearly 12 years.
Israeli gunboats on Saturday morning opened machinegun fire at Palestinian fishermen and their boats off the northern coast of Gaza City.
According to local sources, several fishermen working on their boats off the northern shore of Gaza City were attacked by the Israeli occupation navy, which forced them to return ashore.
Despite the recent Israeli decision to expand fishing areas along the coast of Gaza, the Israeli naval forces still harass and attack Palestinian fishermen.
According to local sources, several fishermen working on their boats off the northern shore of Gaza City were attacked by the Israeli occupation navy, which forced them to return ashore.
Despite the recent Israeli decision to expand fishing areas along the coast of Gaza, the Israeli naval forces still harass and attack Palestinian fishermen.
A horde of extremist Jewish settlers on Friday stole one sheep belonging to a Palestinian shepherd in the northern Jordan Valley.
The sheep belongs to Zuhdi Abu Muhsen, a resident of al-Farisiya area in the northern Jordan Valley.
Khairi Abu Muhsen, the shepherd’s son, said that a group of settlers chased one of his father’s sheep, bundled it into a car and drove away.
Jewish settlers living in illegal settlements in the northern Jordan valley brutalize Palestinian shepherds and farmers almost every day under military protection, and sometimes they kill or steal cattle.
The sheep belongs to Zuhdi Abu Muhsen, a resident of al-Farisiya area in the northern Jordan Valley.
Khairi Abu Muhsen, the shepherd’s son, said that a group of settlers chased one of his father’s sheep, bundled it into a car and drove away.
Jewish settlers living in illegal settlements in the northern Jordan valley brutalize Palestinian shepherds and farmers almost every day under military protection, and sometimes they kill or steal cattle.
12 apr 2019
Israeli soldiers shot, on Friday morning, a Palestinian man with live fire, on his own land, east of Gaza city.
Media sources said the soldiers, stationed in their posts across the perimeter fence east of Gaza city, fired many live rounds at Palestinians on their lands.
They added that one Palestinian was shot, and was rushed to the Shifa Medical Center, in Gaza city.
The attack is part of ongoing Israeli violations against Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in the besieged and improvised Gaza Strip.
Media sources said the soldiers, stationed in their posts across the perimeter fence east of Gaza city, fired many live rounds at Palestinians on their lands.
They added that one Palestinian was shot, and was rushed to the Shifa Medical Center, in Gaza city.
The attack is part of ongoing Israeli violations against Palestinian workers, farmers and fishermen in the besieged and improvised Gaza Strip.
Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the northern besieged Gaza Strip, on Friday morning.
Locals reported that Israeli naval boats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land, and sea blockade for 10 years.
Locals reported that Israeli naval boats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land, and sea blockade for 10 years.
11 apr 2019
Israeli navy ships fired, on Thursday morning, many live rounds at Palestinian fishing boats, and attacked them with water cannons, in Gaza territorial waters, in the Sudaniyya Sea area, northwest of Gaza city.
The Palestinian fishermen’s syndicate in Gaza said the fishing boats were less than three nautical miles in the Palestinian waters when the navy attacked them, causing damage.
It added that the fishermen had to sail back to shore without being able to fish and provide for their families, in fear of further Israeli violations.
The attack is the latest in ongoing assaults and violations carried out by the navy against the fishermen and their boats.
The violations, including those targeting farmers on their own lands near the perimeter fence, have led to hundreds of casualties, including many fatalities, in addition to the frequent abductions of the fishermen and the confiscation of their boats.
The Palestinian fishermen’s syndicate in Gaza said the fishing boats were less than three nautical miles in the Palestinian waters when the navy attacked them, causing damage.
It added that the fishermen had to sail back to shore without being able to fish and provide for their families, in fear of further Israeli violations.
The attack is the latest in ongoing assaults and violations carried out by the navy against the fishermen and their boats.
The violations, including those targeting farmers on their own lands near the perimeter fence, have led to hundreds of casualties, including many fatalities, in addition to the frequent abductions of the fishermen and the confiscation of their boats.
9 apr 2019
The Israeli occupation authorities on Monday seized vast tracts of Palestinian farmland in seven villages south of Nablus in favor of the construction of a new settler road.
Anti-settlement activist Ghassan Daghlas said that the Israeli authorities on Monday ordered the confiscation of about 406 dunums of privately-owned Palestinian land in the villages of Burin, Huwara, Beita, Awarta, Yatma, al-Sawiya, and Yasuf, south of Nablus.
Daghlas affirmed that the new land seizure and road construction move means entrenching the separation between the Palestinians and Israeli settlers, and serves as a prelude to bringing more Israelis to settle in the West Bank.
Anti-settlement activist Ghassan Daghlas said that the Israeli authorities on Monday ordered the confiscation of about 406 dunums of privately-owned Palestinian land in the villages of Burin, Huwara, Beita, Awarta, Yatma, al-Sawiya, and Yasuf, south of Nablus.
Daghlas affirmed that the new land seizure and road construction move means entrenching the separation between the Palestinians and Israeli settlers, and serves as a prelude to bringing more Israelis to settle in the West Bank.
