24 jan 2014
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While the Bethlehem governorate is suffering from a high rate of unemployment, the Russian government has summoned workers from Serbia to work on its project in Bethlehem. This issue caused the Palestinian workers to protest and call on those responsible for the project to make them the priority in working on such projects.
The workers told PNN who toured the project site that the project had been feeding at least 100 families, but now it only feeds 10 families, referring to this as an unjustified move by the Russian government. The Palestinian Labor Minister Ahmad Majdalani confirmed that the ministry has appointed the Laborer's Department in Bethlehem to follow-up on this issue with official parties, saying the Russian project did not coordinate with the Ministry to recruit workers from Serbia. |
The workers demanded that the Palestinian workers become the priority to work in such projects, due to the fact that Bethlehem is suffering from the highest rate of unemployment.
According to statistics issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics for 2011, the Bethlehem and Hebron governorates have recorded the highest rate of unemployment in the West Bank, while Khan Younis governorate has recorded the highest rate of unemployment in the Gaza Strip.
According to statistics issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics for 2011, the Bethlehem and Hebron governorates have recorded the highest rate of unemployment in the West Bank, while Khan Younis governorate has recorded the highest rate of unemployment in the Gaza Strip.
The Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) has recently launched SULALAH project for livestock development. The Project is funded by the European Union (EU) as part of the Food Security Program in the occupied Palestinian territory, UAWC said in a press release Friday.
The 24-month project is implemented by UAWC in partnership with Gruppo di Volontariato Civile (GVC), the Palestinian Hydrology Group for Water and Environmental Resources Development (PHG), Qatar Charity, LaoreSardegna, Jericho's Cooperative Association for Livestock Production and Altamerh's Cooperative Association for Livestock Development.
With a total EU fund of 4.17 Million EURO, SULALAH aims to move herders from aid dependence to self-sustaining growth through livestock husbandry development and market expansion. UAWC aims to achieve the project's goals through improving food security of Palestinian female and male herders by protecting, sustaining and developing livestock production. The project also aims to improve the resilience of vulnerable herders living in the Eastern slopes of the West Bank by enhancing their production capacities, increasing their access to assets and creating income-generating opportunities from livestock productions.
Through the implementation of various project activities, SULALAH seeks to enhance the development of the livestock sector in 76 locations throughout the West Bank. In strengthening the efficiency of the livestock sector, the project will target the most vulnerable areas, communities and small-scale farmers of the East Slopes of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho.
Through a focus on production and marketing, the project will increase the productivity and improve the management of livestock productions by introducing and promoting the use of innovative livestock production practices. Through the promotion of advanced production and marketing mechanisms, SULALAH will further improve targeted herders' access to the local market and enhance economic activity in area C. Under SULALAH, and with the cooperation of partner organizations, UAWC will also improve the targeted communities' access to water resources through the enhancement of water demand management and the construction of new water facilities.
Given their crucial role in livestock management and production, women in the targeted areas are key contributors to the success of any livestock-related activity. Due to the male-dominated nature of the livestock sector in the targeted areas however, women's roles are mostly restricted to labor-intensive chores and they are often completely excluded from any decision-making processes. SULALAH therefore seeks to improve women's status by ensuring their access to the introductory training of innovative production practices as well as strengthening their capacity to participate in decision-making processes.
The 24-month project is implemented by UAWC in partnership with Gruppo di Volontariato Civile (GVC), the Palestinian Hydrology Group for Water and Environmental Resources Development (PHG), Qatar Charity, LaoreSardegna, Jericho's Cooperative Association for Livestock Production and Altamerh's Cooperative Association for Livestock Development.
With a total EU fund of 4.17 Million EURO, SULALAH aims to move herders from aid dependence to self-sustaining growth through livestock husbandry development and market expansion. UAWC aims to achieve the project's goals through improving food security of Palestinian female and male herders by protecting, sustaining and developing livestock production. The project also aims to improve the resilience of vulnerable herders living in the Eastern slopes of the West Bank by enhancing their production capacities, increasing their access to assets and creating income-generating opportunities from livestock productions.
Through the implementation of various project activities, SULALAH seeks to enhance the development of the livestock sector in 76 locations throughout the West Bank. In strengthening the efficiency of the livestock sector, the project will target the most vulnerable areas, communities and small-scale farmers of the East Slopes of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho.
Through a focus on production and marketing, the project will increase the productivity and improve the management of livestock productions by introducing and promoting the use of innovative livestock production practices. Through the promotion of advanced production and marketing mechanisms, SULALAH will further improve targeted herders' access to the local market and enhance economic activity in area C. Under SULALAH, and with the cooperation of partner organizations, UAWC will also improve the targeted communities' access to water resources through the enhancement of water demand management and the construction of new water facilities.
Given their crucial role in livestock management and production, women in the targeted areas are key contributors to the success of any livestock-related activity. Due to the male-dominated nature of the livestock sector in the targeted areas however, women's roles are mostly restricted to labor-intensive chores and they are often completely excluded from any decision-making processes. SULALAH therefore seeks to improve women's status by ensuring their access to the introductory training of innovative production practices as well as strengthening their capacity to participate in decision-making processes.
23 jan 2014
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas sought on Thursday to secure a billion-dollar Gaza energy deal during talks with Russian leaders aimed at restoring warmer ties between the two Soviet-era allies.
Abbas and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev were due to sign an intergovernmental agreement that reports said included a $1.0-billion (730-million-euro) natural gas project in the Gaza section of the Mediterranean Sea.
The state ITAR-TASS news agency said Russia's natural gas giant Gazprom hoped to produce 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas at the site.
The report added that Russia's Technopromexport engineering firm was also considering a small oil development project near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
It was not immediately clear how far negotiations on the two deals had progressed or when the projects might be launched.
Moscow has been a close Palestinian ally since the Soviet era. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also called for the establishment of east Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Abbas began his Moscow visit by holding talks with Putin at which he called Russia a "great power" that deserved to play a more prominent role the volatile Middle East region.
"We are glad that Russia is an active and influential player on the international arena," Russian news agencies quoted Abbas as telling the Kremlin chief at his suburban Moscow residence.
"We are in favor of Russia playing a central role in the Middle East because it is a great power."
Russia has more recently developed close ties with Israel but has seen its role in stuttering Middle East peace negotiations largely overtaken by the United States.
Abbas was also due on Friday to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Abbas and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev were due to sign an intergovernmental agreement that reports said included a $1.0-billion (730-million-euro) natural gas project in the Gaza section of the Mediterranean Sea.
The state ITAR-TASS news agency said Russia's natural gas giant Gazprom hoped to produce 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas at the site.
The report added that Russia's Technopromexport engineering firm was also considering a small oil development project near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
It was not immediately clear how far negotiations on the two deals had progressed or when the projects might be launched.
Moscow has been a close Palestinian ally since the Soviet era. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also called for the establishment of east Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Abbas began his Moscow visit by holding talks with Putin at which he called Russia a "great power" that deserved to play a more prominent role the volatile Middle East region.
"We are glad that Russia is an active and influential player on the international arena," Russian news agencies quoted Abbas as telling the Kremlin chief at his suburban Moscow residence.
"We are in favor of Russia playing a central role in the Middle East because it is a great power."
Russia has more recently developed close ties with Israel but has seen its role in stuttering Middle East peace negotiations largely overtaken by the United States.
Abbas was also due on Friday to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) has recently launched SULALAH, project for livestock development, funded by the European Union (EU), a press release said on Thursday. The EU’s 4.17 million Euros fund is part of its Food Security Program in the occupied Palestinian Territory.
The 24-month project is implemented by UAWC in partnership with Gruppo di Volontariato Civile (GVC), the Palestinian Hydrology Group for Water and Environmental Resources Development (PHG), Qatar Charity, LaoreSardegna, Jericho’s Cooperative Association for Livestock Production and al-Ta’amreh Cooperative Association for Livestock Development.
SULALAH aims to move herders from aid dependence to self-sustaining growth through livestock husbandry development and market expansion, said the press release.
Its goal is to improve food security of Palestinian female and male herders by protecting, sustaining and developing livestock production.
The project also aims to improve the resilience of vulnerable herders living in the eastern slopes of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho by enhancing their production capacities, increasing their access to assets and creating income-generating opportunities from livestock productions.
SULALAH also aims to improve herders’ access to the local market and enhance economic activity in area C as well as access to water resources through the enhancement of water demand management and the construction of new water facilities.
The project will also seek to improve women’s role in the livestock production sector by ensuring their access to the introductory trainings of innovative production practices as well as strengthening their capacity to participate in decision-making processes.
The 24-month project is implemented by UAWC in partnership with Gruppo di Volontariato Civile (GVC), the Palestinian Hydrology Group for Water and Environmental Resources Development (PHG), Qatar Charity, LaoreSardegna, Jericho’s Cooperative Association for Livestock Production and al-Ta’amreh Cooperative Association for Livestock Development.
SULALAH aims to move herders from aid dependence to self-sustaining growth through livestock husbandry development and market expansion, said the press release.
Its goal is to improve food security of Palestinian female and male herders by protecting, sustaining and developing livestock production.
The project also aims to improve the resilience of vulnerable herders living in the eastern slopes of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho by enhancing their production capacities, increasing their access to assets and creating income-generating opportunities from livestock productions.
SULALAH also aims to improve herders’ access to the local market and enhance economic activity in area C as well as access to water resources through the enhancement of water demand management and the construction of new water facilities.
The project will also seek to improve women’s role in the livestock production sector by ensuring their access to the introductory trainings of innovative production practices as well as strengthening their capacity to participate in decision-making processes.
The head of the Palestinian energy authority said Wednesday that an agreement to build a power plant in Jenin requires the approval of the government.
Omar Kittaneh said that contrary to what has been reported on social media the proposed agreement has “the cheapest prices in the Middle East”.
“Despite not being part of the agreement, the government sets the condition of having a long-term agreement to ensure low prices.”
Kittaneh added that “Israeli law forbids signing any agreement for a period longer than 15 years to allow for competition.”
He said that if the government does not approve the agreement within 9 months, it will be void.
Earlier this month the Palestinian Authority said the Palestine Power Generation Company signed a 20-year-deal with Israeli and American natural gas companies.
Kittaneh said that a power plant would be built in the West Bank on land designated by the Palestinian cabinet, and that bids for the project were now open.
Partners in Israel's Leviathan natural gas field signed a $1.2 billion deal with PPGC, Reuters reported.
According to the Reuters report, PPGC plans to build a $300 million power plant in Jenin that will be operated by the gas from the deal.
The Leviathan natural gas field is located in the Mediterranean Sea west of Haifa.
Omar Kittaneh said that contrary to what has been reported on social media the proposed agreement has “the cheapest prices in the Middle East”.
“Despite not being part of the agreement, the government sets the condition of having a long-term agreement to ensure low prices.”
Kittaneh added that “Israeli law forbids signing any agreement for a period longer than 15 years to allow for competition.”
He said that if the government does not approve the agreement within 9 months, it will be void.
Earlier this month the Palestinian Authority said the Palestine Power Generation Company signed a 20-year-deal with Israeli and American natural gas companies.
Kittaneh said that a power plant would be built in the West Bank on land designated by the Palestinian cabinet, and that bids for the project were now open.
Partners in Israel's Leviathan natural gas field signed a $1.2 billion deal with PPGC, Reuters reported.
According to the Reuters report, PPGC plans to build a $300 million power plant in Jenin that will be operated by the gas from the deal.
The Leviathan natural gas field is located in the Mediterranean Sea west of Haifa.
20 jan 2014
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Bethlehem and Ramallah on Monday as part of a four-day visit to the Holy Land.
Harper met with President Abbas in Ramallah, where he was received in an official ceremony.
Abbas and Harper inspected the honor guard as delegations from both sides met. A Canadian business delegation accompanied Harper and will meet with their Palestinian counterparts to discuss join ventures and investments, official news agency Wafa reported.
It is expected that Harper will pledge over $60 million to support the Palestinian private sector.
Earlier, Harper's visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was mired in controversy as local journalists claimed that the premier's bodyguards assaulted them as they tried to cover his visit.
Cameraman Mousa al-Shaer told Ma'an that it was agreed that Harper and his entourage would enter the church first, with journalists following afterwards.
However, the Canadian premier's bodyguards prevented local journalists from entering the church and assaulted them in the process, al-Shaer said.
The Palestinian Union of Journalists said that one journalist was punched in the face and Amir Hijazi, who works for a local TV station, was hit with a metal object.
The union urged all Palestinian journalists to boycott Harper's visit to Palestine and called on the Canadian premier to issue an official apology.
Harper met with President Abbas in Ramallah, where he was received in an official ceremony.
Abbas and Harper inspected the honor guard as delegations from both sides met. A Canadian business delegation accompanied Harper and will meet with their Palestinian counterparts to discuss join ventures and investments, official news agency Wafa reported.
It is expected that Harper will pledge over $60 million to support the Palestinian private sector.
Earlier, Harper's visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was mired in controversy as local journalists claimed that the premier's bodyguards assaulted them as they tried to cover his visit.
Cameraman Mousa al-Shaer told Ma'an that it was agreed that Harper and his entourage would enter the church first, with journalists following afterwards.
However, the Canadian premier's bodyguards prevented local journalists from entering the church and assaulted them in the process, al-Shaer said.
The Palestinian Union of Journalists said that one journalist was punched in the face and Amir Hijazi, who works for a local TV station, was hit with a metal object.
The union urged all Palestinian journalists to boycott Harper's visit to Palestine and called on the Canadian premier to issue an official apology.
14 jan 2014
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Ibn Hamad Al Thani has given orders to grant work visas to 20,000 Palestinians, the Palestinian ambassador to Qatar told Ma'an on Monday.
The move comes after 20 years in which Palestinians were prevented by Qatari authorities from acquiring visas to work in the prosperous Persian Gulf emirate, according to the ambassador.
Muneer Ghannam told Ma'an that Palestinian Authority prime minister Rami Hamdallah, who met with Sheikh Tamim two weeks ago, had requested that Qatar allow Palestinian specialists to work in Qatar in order to help reduce unemployment rates in Palestine.
The Emir of Qatar responded positively and eventually approved the entry of 20,000 Palestinians to work in his country.
The Palestinian ministries of labor and foreign affairs will coordinate with their Qatari counterparts to determine what specialists the Qatari labor market can absorb, according to the ambassador. The two ministries will soon begin publicizing a list of vacancies in Qatar.
Workers and specialists who plan to take advantage of the Qatari announcement will have to sign a contract through the Palestinian ministries of labor and foreign affairs, added the ambassador.
If a Qatari employer decides later to end the contract for whatever reason, he explained, the Palestinian will return to his homeland and will not be allowed to work again in Qatar until two years have passed.
The ambassador highlighted that the Palestinian Authority minister of interior Said Abu Ali and his Qatari counterpart signed an agreement detailing all employment conditions and regulations.
The move comes after 20 years in which Palestinians were prevented by Qatari authorities from acquiring visas to work in the prosperous Persian Gulf emirate, according to the ambassador.
Muneer Ghannam told Ma'an that Palestinian Authority prime minister Rami Hamdallah, who met with Sheikh Tamim two weeks ago, had requested that Qatar allow Palestinian specialists to work in Qatar in order to help reduce unemployment rates in Palestine.
The Emir of Qatar responded positively and eventually approved the entry of 20,000 Palestinians to work in his country.
The Palestinian ministries of labor and foreign affairs will coordinate with their Qatari counterparts to determine what specialists the Qatari labor market can absorb, according to the ambassador. The two ministries will soon begin publicizing a list of vacancies in Qatar.
Workers and specialists who plan to take advantage of the Qatari announcement will have to sign a contract through the Palestinian ministries of labor and foreign affairs, added the ambassador.
If a Qatari employer decides later to end the contract for whatever reason, he explained, the Palestinian will return to his homeland and will not be allowed to work again in Qatar until two years have passed.
The ambassador highlighted that the Palestinian Authority minister of interior Said Abu Ali and his Qatari counterpart signed an agreement detailing all employment conditions and regulations.
13 jan 2014
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Gaza and Qatar Charity (QC) have signed two agreements for rehabilitation and reconstruction of 200 housing units in Gaza.
The project is estimated to cost around around 20.5 million Riyal which is around 5.5 million Dollars.
The agreement is a part of a program funded by the Gulf Co-operation Council for the reconstruction of Gaza in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank.
Not being the first project of its kind director of the QC office,Ibrahim Zainal explains, “These projects included the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 75 houses for the poor as well as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 20 houses for families whose houses were destroyed during the war on Gaza in 2008, with funding from the Organisation of the Islamic Dawa and QC.
Zainal added that quality was a major focus for the projects as was the diversity of activities, including construction, rehabilitation and restoration according to the specific needs of the families, which include families containing members who have disabilities.”
The project is estimated to cost around around 20.5 million Riyal which is around 5.5 million Dollars.
The agreement is a part of a program funded by the Gulf Co-operation Council for the reconstruction of Gaza in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank.
Not being the first project of its kind director of the QC office,Ibrahim Zainal explains, “These projects included the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 75 houses for the poor as well as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 20 houses for families whose houses were destroyed during the war on Gaza in 2008, with funding from the Organisation of the Islamic Dawa and QC.
Zainal added that quality was a major focus for the projects as was the diversity of activities, including construction, rehabilitation and restoration according to the specific needs of the families, which include families containing members who have disabilities.”
9 jan 2014
Demands using site for settlements’ garbage too
Israel refuses to allow Palestinians to use a World Bank funded landfill south of Jerusalem, reports Haaretz.
The new landfill, funded by The World Bank, was intended to serve the palestinian population, but the Israeli administration is refusing the operation of the landfill if the Palestinian Authority who runs the landfill doesn’t agree to serve the illegal Israeli settlements as well.
The landfill is the first modern landfill in the southern West Bank. Since it can’t be used, some palestinian communities have to dump their garbage in non authorized sites, risking serious enviromental hazards such as polluting the ground water.
Israel defies World Bank, refuses to let Palestinians use landfill
The Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration refuses to allow the operation of a landfill funded by the World Bank and intended to serve the Palestinian population south of Jerusalem.
The administration is demanding that the Palestinians agree to let the region’s settlements use the site as well, but the Palestinians refuse.
The Al-Minya landfill east of Bethlehem was built in the last two years with funds the World Bank gave the Palestinian Authority. It is the first modern landfill in the southern West Bank, with means of sealing the earth to prevent waste from leaking into the groundwater. Another modern landfill, also set up with international funding, is already operating in the Jenin area.
Since Al-Minya is in Area C, its construction required the Civil Administration’s approval. Currently the waste from the Hebron and Bethlehem communities is dumped in pirate sites that constitute serious environmental hazards. Some Palestinian communities dump the garbage in open areas and occasionally burn it to reduce its volume.
Anti-settlement activist Dror Etkes said he visited the Al-Minya site this week and spoke to one of its operators, who told him the site is not operating even though its construction is completed because the Civil Administration insists on dumping the settlements’ garbage in it, too.
A spokesman for the the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said the Palestinian Authority, Civil Administration and World Bank advanced the landfill for the waste of the Bethlehem and Hebron regions, as well as for the communities near Jerusalem.
The spokesman said the Palestinians reneged on their agreement to operate the site as a regional landfill that would serve the Jewish settlements as well. For this reason the Civil Administration won’t let the site to operate.
However, the World Bank made it clear in the talks about the landfill’s operation last year that the funds it gave the Palestinian Authority are intended for the Palestinian population. Traditionally, the Palestinian Authority does not cooperate in the use of infrastructure facilities with the settlements, which it sees as illegitimate.
A few waste management sites, however, have served both Palestinian and Jewish communities. The Israeli Tovlan landfill in the Jordan Valley took in garbage from Nablus, a landfill near Ramallah served settlers from the area and the Carmel site in the Hebron area served Israeli communities as well.
Israel refuses to allow Palestinians to use a World Bank funded landfill south of Jerusalem, reports Haaretz.
The new landfill, funded by The World Bank, was intended to serve the palestinian population, but the Israeli administration is refusing the operation of the landfill if the Palestinian Authority who runs the landfill doesn’t agree to serve the illegal Israeli settlements as well.
The landfill is the first modern landfill in the southern West Bank. Since it can’t be used, some palestinian communities have to dump their garbage in non authorized sites, risking serious enviromental hazards such as polluting the ground water.
Israel defies World Bank, refuses to let Palestinians use landfill
The Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration refuses to allow the operation of a landfill funded by the World Bank and intended to serve the Palestinian population south of Jerusalem.
The administration is demanding that the Palestinians agree to let the region’s settlements use the site as well, but the Palestinians refuse.
The Al-Minya landfill east of Bethlehem was built in the last two years with funds the World Bank gave the Palestinian Authority. It is the first modern landfill in the southern West Bank, with means of sealing the earth to prevent waste from leaking into the groundwater. Another modern landfill, also set up with international funding, is already operating in the Jenin area.
Since Al-Minya is in Area C, its construction required the Civil Administration’s approval. Currently the waste from the Hebron and Bethlehem communities is dumped in pirate sites that constitute serious environmental hazards. Some Palestinian communities dump the garbage in open areas and occasionally burn it to reduce its volume.
Anti-settlement activist Dror Etkes said he visited the Al-Minya site this week and spoke to one of its operators, who told him the site is not operating even though its construction is completed because the Civil Administration insists on dumping the settlements’ garbage in it, too.
A spokesman for the the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said the Palestinian Authority, Civil Administration and World Bank advanced the landfill for the waste of the Bethlehem and Hebron regions, as well as for the communities near Jerusalem.
The spokesman said the Palestinians reneged on their agreement to operate the site as a regional landfill that would serve the Jewish settlements as well. For this reason the Civil Administration won’t let the site to operate.
However, the World Bank made it clear in the talks about the landfill’s operation last year that the funds it gave the Palestinian Authority are intended for the Palestinian population. Traditionally, the Palestinian Authority does not cooperate in the use of infrastructure facilities with the settlements, which it sees as illegitimate.
A few waste management sites, however, have served both Palestinian and Jewish communities. The Israeli Tovlan landfill in the Jordan Valley took in garbage from Nablus, a landfill near Ramallah served settlers from the area and the Carmel site in the Hebron area served Israeli communities as well.
8 jan 2014
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has signed an agreement with a Palestinian bank to support smaller firms, especially those owned by women, drive economic development.
IFC will help Bank of Palestine scale up its banking operations for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinian private sector accounts for 90 percent of employment and is dominated by family businesses, but only five percent have access to loans. IFC will also help the bank develop new products and services that cater to the financial needs of smaller firms, with a focus on female entrepreneurs.
"Our long term partnership with IFC has helped us strengthen our banking operations and mitigate potential risks," said Hashim Shawa, Chairman and General Manager of Bank of Palestine. "We focus on supporting female entrepreneurs and further integrating women into the economy, while encouraging the rapidly growing SME sector."
The project marks IFC's third advisory intervention in the West Bank and Gaza aiming to facilitate access to finance, promote business sustainability, and support business women.
"Although women own nearly a quarter of all businesses in the West Bank and Gaza very few of them have access to finance from banks," said Luke Haggarty, IFC Head of Advisory Services in the Middle East and North Africa. "A vibrant private sector that includes more women owned businesses can provide much-needed employment opportunities, attract investors, and drive economic growth."
Bank of Palestine has the largest branch network in the West Bank and Gaza, and over 300,000 customers, accounting for almost 25 percent of the total Palestinian banking market. In 2010, IFC acquired five percent of Bank of Palestine and supported the bank's initiative to boost trade with a trade finance agreement. IFC also helped the bank develop the first student lending program in West Bank and Gaza, and provided risk management advice and assistance on corporate governance issues.
It's worth mentioning that IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in more than 100 countries, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. In FY13, the investments climbed to an all-time high of nearly $25 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs and tackle the world's most pressing development challenges.
IFC will help Bank of Palestine scale up its banking operations for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinian private sector accounts for 90 percent of employment and is dominated by family businesses, but only five percent have access to loans. IFC will also help the bank develop new products and services that cater to the financial needs of smaller firms, with a focus on female entrepreneurs.
"Our long term partnership with IFC has helped us strengthen our banking operations and mitigate potential risks," said Hashim Shawa, Chairman and General Manager of Bank of Palestine. "We focus on supporting female entrepreneurs and further integrating women into the economy, while encouraging the rapidly growing SME sector."
The project marks IFC's third advisory intervention in the West Bank and Gaza aiming to facilitate access to finance, promote business sustainability, and support business women.
"Although women own nearly a quarter of all businesses in the West Bank and Gaza very few of them have access to finance from banks," said Luke Haggarty, IFC Head of Advisory Services in the Middle East and North Africa. "A vibrant private sector that includes more women owned businesses can provide much-needed employment opportunities, attract investors, and drive economic growth."
Bank of Palestine has the largest branch network in the West Bank and Gaza, and over 300,000 customers, accounting for almost 25 percent of the total Palestinian banking market. In 2010, IFC acquired five percent of Bank of Palestine and supported the bank's initiative to boost trade with a trade finance agreement. IFC also helped the bank develop the first student lending program in West Bank and Gaza, and provided risk management advice and assistance on corporate governance issues.
It's worth mentioning that IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in more than 100 countries, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. In FY13, the investments climbed to an all-time high of nearly $25 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs and tackle the world's most pressing development challenges.
Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Marty M Natakegawa has stated that Indonesia will strengthen its support for Palestine pushing for the long-delayed realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
Through the Program for Palestine Capacity Building Indonesia has been a supporter of Palestine for a longer period of time and Natakegawa stated that, "with regard to Palestine, this year will be marked by a further strengthening of Indonesias support for Palestine, among others, through support for Palestines institutional capacity building. We will be launching the next phase of capacity building program for the period of 2014-2019.”
He believes that a sustainable security and prosperity can only be realized if enjoyed by all countries in the region and not unilaterally the Indonesian newspaper Antara News reported.
Through the Program for Palestine Capacity Building Indonesia has been a supporter of Palestine for a longer period of time and Natakegawa stated that, "with regard to Palestine, this year will be marked by a further strengthening of Indonesias support for Palestine, among others, through support for Palestines institutional capacity building. We will be launching the next phase of capacity building program for the period of 2014-2019.”
He believes that a sustainable security and prosperity can only be realized if enjoyed by all countries in the region and not unilaterally the Indonesian newspaper Antara News reported.
7 jan 2014
Saudi Arabia has injected the Palestinian Ministry of Finance with 40 million, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ahmed Abdulaziz Qattan, Saudi permanent envoy at the Cairo-based Arab League, said the amount represents the share of the Kingdom for the months of October and November in support of the Palestinian budget, the agency reported.
Ahmed Abdulaziz Qattan, Saudi permanent envoy at the Cairo-based Arab League, said the amount represents the share of the Kingdom for the months of October and November in support of the Palestinian budget, the agency reported.
6 jan 2014
Drilling platform of the Leviathan natural gas field
The first customer to sign up to buy gas from Israel’s so-called Leviathan field is the Palestine Power Generation Company, which is developing an electric power plant near Jenin, Israeli daily reported on Monday. Haaretz said “Three partners in Leviathan told the (Tel Aviv) Stock Exchange on Sunday that PPGC had agreed to buy $1.2 billion worth of gas over a 20-year period that will begin when the field begins producing,”
PPGC is constructing a $300 million, 200-megawatt power plant that will take 30 months to complete. It is controlled by the Palestine Electric Company but counts other shareholders as well, according to the daily.
Under the gas-export policy established by the Israeli [occupation] government, gas sold to the PA and to Jordan will be considered part of Leviathan’s export quota. All told, 40% of Israel’s natural gas can be exported under the rules approved by the cabinet last year.
Palestinian Authority announced on Sunday evening that it signed an agreement to import natural gas from Israel worth 1.2 billion dollars for the 20 years to come.
President of the Energy Authority in the Palestinian government in Ramallah Omar Katana told Anadula Agency in a phone call that under the agreement signed today, Monday, in Jerusalem, the Palestinian side shall be provided with an amount of 4.75 billion cubic meters of natural gas for the next twenty years to come.
Katana refused to give additional details about when to start importing the natural gas, how the gas shipments would be financed, and what to do with Gaza Marine gas field off the Gaza shores.
The agreement is in contrast to previous statements by Ramallah Prime Minister Ramy al-Hamdulillah, in which he emphasized that “Palestine will be a productive exporter of gas by 2017, by virtue of the newly discovered field off the coast of Gaza at the end of 1990s,”
The Abbas-appointed government according to Hamdulillah has held several meetings over the past months with British Gas Company, the concessionaire which shall develop the Gaza gas field discovered in 1998.
Hamdulillah expected during nearly two months ago that the annual net profit of the Palestinian Authority that may come out of gas production and export to be some $150 million, which would have reduced foreign aid dependency.
“Israel Electric Corporation” announced in late November 2013 that the amount of natural gas in the field off the coast of Gaza exceeds 33 billion cubic meters.
The amount existing in the field, if extracted, would fully serve the needs of the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for 25 years to come, and these of Israel for five years, according to the Israeli corporation.
The Palestinian government in Gaza said no people can agree that his natural resources are exploited by an occupying power.
Commenting on Ramallah government’s decision to export natural gas from Israel, Spokesman of the Palestinian Government Mr Ihab al-Ghusain said it is unwise.
Ghusain pointed out that the agreement serves the Israeli interests and emphasizes Israeli occupation’s control of the Palestinian natural resources.
“Israel is an occupying power which has been long disrespecting the international resolutions ensuring the protection of Palestinian rights to the resources of their country,” referring to the last UNGA draft resolution which affirmed the Palestinian right to self-determination.
He called for putting the UN resolution into force and holding Israel accountable for its violations of the Palestinian people’s rights.
On November, 2013, The United Nations General Assembly in its approved a draft resolution, demanding Israel to exploiting, depleting and endangering the natural resources in the occupied Arab.
The first customer to sign up to buy gas from Israel’s so-called Leviathan field is the Palestine Power Generation Company, which is developing an electric power plant near Jenin, Israeli daily reported on Monday. Haaretz said “Three partners in Leviathan told the (Tel Aviv) Stock Exchange on Sunday that PPGC had agreed to buy $1.2 billion worth of gas over a 20-year period that will begin when the field begins producing,”
PPGC is constructing a $300 million, 200-megawatt power plant that will take 30 months to complete. It is controlled by the Palestine Electric Company but counts other shareholders as well, according to the daily.
Under the gas-export policy established by the Israeli [occupation] government, gas sold to the PA and to Jordan will be considered part of Leviathan’s export quota. All told, 40% of Israel’s natural gas can be exported under the rules approved by the cabinet last year.
Palestinian Authority announced on Sunday evening that it signed an agreement to import natural gas from Israel worth 1.2 billion dollars for the 20 years to come.
President of the Energy Authority in the Palestinian government in Ramallah Omar Katana told Anadula Agency in a phone call that under the agreement signed today, Monday, in Jerusalem, the Palestinian side shall be provided with an amount of 4.75 billion cubic meters of natural gas for the next twenty years to come.
Katana refused to give additional details about when to start importing the natural gas, how the gas shipments would be financed, and what to do with Gaza Marine gas field off the Gaza shores.
The agreement is in contrast to previous statements by Ramallah Prime Minister Ramy al-Hamdulillah, in which he emphasized that “Palestine will be a productive exporter of gas by 2017, by virtue of the newly discovered field off the coast of Gaza at the end of 1990s,”
The Abbas-appointed government according to Hamdulillah has held several meetings over the past months with British Gas Company, the concessionaire which shall develop the Gaza gas field discovered in 1998.
Hamdulillah expected during nearly two months ago that the annual net profit of the Palestinian Authority that may come out of gas production and export to be some $150 million, which would have reduced foreign aid dependency.
“Israel Electric Corporation” announced in late November 2013 that the amount of natural gas in the field off the coast of Gaza exceeds 33 billion cubic meters.
The amount existing in the field, if extracted, would fully serve the needs of the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for 25 years to come, and these of Israel for five years, according to the Israeli corporation.
The Palestinian government in Gaza said no people can agree that his natural resources are exploited by an occupying power.
Commenting on Ramallah government’s decision to export natural gas from Israel, Spokesman of the Palestinian Government Mr Ihab al-Ghusain said it is unwise.
Ghusain pointed out that the agreement serves the Israeli interests and emphasizes Israeli occupation’s control of the Palestinian natural resources.
“Israel is an occupying power which has been long disrespecting the international resolutions ensuring the protection of Palestinian rights to the resources of their country,” referring to the last UNGA draft resolution which affirmed the Palestinian right to self-determination.
He called for putting the UN resolution into force and holding Israel accountable for its violations of the Palestinian people’s rights.
On November, 2013, The United Nations General Assembly in its approved a draft resolution, demanding Israel to exploiting, depleting and endangering the natural resources in the occupied Arab.
The union of fuel companies in Gaza accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah of being behind the stifling fuel crisis that has afflicted the besieged Strip for two weeks after it refrained from paying the Israeli company for the fuel shipments.
"The petroleum authority and the finance ministry in Ramallah did not assume their role in communicating with the Israeli supplier of fuel to provide the Gaza Strip with the requested amounts," head of the union Mahmoud Al-Shawwa said.
"The finance ministry in Ramallah claims that it has a cash crunch and thus is unable to pay the Israeli company, although we funnel all funds to it on a regular basis," Shawwa added.
In a related context, Awraq news network disclosed an official document proving that the PA had sold the remaining Qatari fuel aid sent to Gaza to the Egyptian authorities.
The network published a letter sent on the first of January 2014 by PA ambassador in Cairo Barakat Al-Farra to head of the Egyptian petroleum authority, in which the former offered the Egyptian side to buy what remained of the fuel aid which Qatar had sent in April 2012 to the Gaza power plant.
Qatar had sent several months ago fuel shipments to Gaza through port Suez, but the Egyptian authorities had allowed only a few amount of this fuel aid into Gaza.
The leaked document also showed that Al-Farra expressed his readiness to receive any check payment suggested by the Egyptian side for the remaining diesel shipments held at port Suez.
"The petroleum authority and the finance ministry in Ramallah did not assume their role in communicating with the Israeli supplier of fuel to provide the Gaza Strip with the requested amounts," head of the union Mahmoud Al-Shawwa said.
"The finance ministry in Ramallah claims that it has a cash crunch and thus is unable to pay the Israeli company, although we funnel all funds to it on a regular basis," Shawwa added.
In a related context, Awraq news network disclosed an official document proving that the PA had sold the remaining Qatari fuel aid sent to Gaza to the Egyptian authorities.
The network published a letter sent on the first of January 2014 by PA ambassador in Cairo Barakat Al-Farra to head of the Egyptian petroleum authority, in which the former offered the Egyptian side to buy what remained of the fuel aid which Qatar had sent in April 2012 to the Gaza power plant.
Qatar had sent several months ago fuel shipments to Gaza through port Suez, but the Egyptian authorities had allowed only a few amount of this fuel aid into Gaza.
The leaked document also showed that Al-Farra expressed his readiness to receive any check payment suggested by the Egyptian side for the remaining diesel shipments held at port Suez.
5 jan 2014
Palestine Power Generation Company has signed a 20-year-deal with Israeli and American natural gas companies, the Palestinian Authority's minister of energy said.
Omar Kittaneh said that a power plant would be built in the West Bank on land designated by the Palestinian cabinet, and that bids for the project are now open.
Partners in Israel's Leviathan natural gas field signed a $1.2 billion deal with PPGC, Reuters reported.
According to the Reuters report, PPGC plans to build a $300 million power plant in Jenin that will be operated by the gas from the deal.
The Leviathan natural gas field is located in the Mediterranean Sea west of Haifa.
Omar Kittaneh said that a power plant would be built in the West Bank on land designated by the Palestinian cabinet, and that bids for the project are now open.
Partners in Israel's Leviathan natural gas field signed a $1.2 billion deal with PPGC, Reuters reported.
According to the Reuters report, PPGC plans to build a $300 million power plant in Jenin that will be operated by the gas from the deal.
The Leviathan natural gas field is located in the Mediterranean Sea west of Haifa.
An economic report said the Israeli authorities closed Karm Abu Salem crossing, the only commercial crossing with the Gaza Strip, on 150 days over 2013, which forms 41% of the total working days. The report is issued Saturday by Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Industry and Agriculture in Gaza, a local organization of businesses and companies.
It said the repeated closure of the Karm Abu Salem crossing violates the Egypt-mediated cease-fire agreement signed in November 2012 between the Palestinians and Israel, which followed an eight-day Israeli offensive in Gaza.
The agreement included understandings regarding the seven-year blockade of Gaza and the movement of goods through Karm Abu Salem crossing from and into the coastal enclave.
Normally Israel keeps the crossing operational for 22 days monthly, closing it on Fridays and Saturdays, while also shut it down on Jewish holidays for ‘security concerns’, the report said.
In 2013, the number of cargo trucks entered into Gaza reached 55.833, with a shortage of 1578 compared to 2012, according to the report.
Israel only allowed an export of 187 cargo trucks from the Gaza Strip to European markets, compared to 234 trucks in 2012, mostly loaded with agricultural products.
On a related vein, the report handled the impacts of the Egyptian military clampdown on smuggling tunnels with Gaza Strip since early July 2013.
On this regard, the report said that tunnel closure caused a loss of more than half a billion dollars over the past six months, as a direct result of the full stoppage of some economic activities and decline in production of others, which contributed to a 60% decrease in GDP during that period.
The construction sector is one of the most affected by the closure of tunnels, as it employs a significant part of Gaza labor, and depends on the availability of building materials, which the Israeli occupation used to transfer only to the projects funded by the UN in Gaza, the report explained.
During the second quarter of 2013, it contributed up to 27% to GDP, equivalent to 135 million dollars, it added.
The report said that rate of unemployment in the Gaza Strip exceeded 39% by the end of 2013, increasing to the number of the unemployed to some 140.000 people.
It said the repeated closure of the Karm Abu Salem crossing violates the Egypt-mediated cease-fire agreement signed in November 2012 between the Palestinians and Israel, which followed an eight-day Israeli offensive in Gaza.
The agreement included understandings regarding the seven-year blockade of Gaza and the movement of goods through Karm Abu Salem crossing from and into the coastal enclave.
Normally Israel keeps the crossing operational for 22 days monthly, closing it on Fridays and Saturdays, while also shut it down on Jewish holidays for ‘security concerns’, the report said.
In 2013, the number of cargo trucks entered into Gaza reached 55.833, with a shortage of 1578 compared to 2012, according to the report.
Israel only allowed an export of 187 cargo trucks from the Gaza Strip to European markets, compared to 234 trucks in 2012, mostly loaded with agricultural products.
On a related vein, the report handled the impacts of the Egyptian military clampdown on smuggling tunnels with Gaza Strip since early July 2013.
On this regard, the report said that tunnel closure caused a loss of more than half a billion dollars over the past six months, as a direct result of the full stoppage of some economic activities and decline in production of others, which contributed to a 60% decrease in GDP during that period.
The construction sector is one of the most affected by the closure of tunnels, as it employs a significant part of Gaza labor, and depends on the availability of building materials, which the Israeli occupation used to transfer only to the projects funded by the UN in Gaza, the report explained.
During the second quarter of 2013, it contributed up to 27% to GDP, equivalent to 135 million dollars, it added.
The report said that rate of unemployment in the Gaza Strip exceeded 39% by the end of 2013, increasing to the number of the unemployed to some 140.000 people.
4 jan 2014
Petroleum and Gas Stations Owners Association in the Gaza Strip held the Petroleum Authority in Ramallah government responsible for the gas and Petroleum crisis in Gaza that has continued for months. The association spokesman Mohammed Abadlah warned in statements on Friday evening of an imminent crisis due to the shortage of fuel supply coming from the Israeli side through Karam Abu Salem crossing.
He revealed that his association will expose all parties that are contributing to the Gaza blockade by preventing the entry of fuel derivatives and gas.
Abadleh added: "Ramallah Authority is directly responsible for the amount of fuel incoming to the Gaza Strip," pointing out that his association is paying money to Ramallah on a daily basis.
He revealed that the Petroleum Authority in Ramallah buys fuel for the West Bank's fuel and gas stations using Gaza money, while it only allows few quantities of fuel, not enough for one day, into the Strip.
He also denied that his association is affiliated with any political party, and said: "We have nothing to do with political wrangling ... and we will not allow ourselves to be exploited by any party as a pressure tool."
He revealed that his association will expose all parties that are contributing to the Gaza blockade by preventing the entry of fuel derivatives and gas.
Abadleh added: "Ramallah Authority is directly responsible for the amount of fuel incoming to the Gaza Strip," pointing out that his association is paying money to Ramallah on a daily basis.
He revealed that the Petroleum Authority in Ramallah buys fuel for the West Bank's fuel and gas stations using Gaza money, while it only allows few quantities of fuel, not enough for one day, into the Strip.
He also denied that his association is affiliated with any political party, and said: "We have nothing to do with political wrangling ... and we will not allow ourselves to be exploited by any party as a pressure tool."
2 jan 2014
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The head of the transport Workers Union Jamal Jarad
Transport Workers Union (TWU) in Gaza called on Wednesday the United Nation and Human Right Organizations to pressure Israel to lift the imposed siege on Gaza since 2007, asking Ramallah authorities to eliminate taxes on fuel exported to Gaza. The TWU organized on Wednesday a sit-in at Karni Crossing east of Gaza, calling for opening the closed crossing . The head of the Union Jamal Jarad stressed the need to allow the entry of spare parts of cars to the Gaza Strip. " The imposed siege on Gaza since 2007 created several crises which affected the transport sector seriously , the statics of losses are beyond perception," he said. Jarad explained that the shortage of fuel paralyzed the economic and transportation process which therefore hindered many workers from reaching their works. The losses of economic sector due to the ongoing blockade reached to $154 million. |
He said that Gaza needs 400.000 liter of fuel per day.
1 jan 2014
The United States is set to increase financial aid to the Palestinian Authority in 2014, the PLO ambassador to Washington said Tuesday.
Maen Erekat told Ma’an that the US Congress agreed to allocate $440 million of financial aid to the Palestinian Authority in 2014. He highlighted that in 2013, US aid was $426 million, $495 million in 2012 and $545 million in 2011.
In 2014, most of the financial aid will be developmental projects through the US aid agency USAID. Only $70 million is expected to be paid directly to the PA’s treasury, he highlighted.
The ambassador noted that “despite the endorsement, financial aid to the PA will be affected by progress of the peace process in Palestine.”
The Palestinian leadership, says Erekat, has asked the US to reestablish a joint Palestinian-American committee which was active in 1990s to discuss political, economical and tourism issues among others.
Maen Erekat told Ma’an that the US Congress agreed to allocate $440 million of financial aid to the Palestinian Authority in 2014. He highlighted that in 2013, US aid was $426 million, $495 million in 2012 and $545 million in 2011.
In 2014, most of the financial aid will be developmental projects through the US aid agency USAID. Only $70 million is expected to be paid directly to the PA’s treasury, he highlighted.
The ambassador noted that “despite the endorsement, financial aid to the PA will be affected by progress of the peace process in Palestine.”
The Palestinian leadership, says Erekat, has asked the US to reestablish a joint Palestinian-American committee which was active in 1990s to discuss political, economical and tourism issues among others.
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