6 mar 2014
The Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, Junya Matsuura, signed Thursday contracts with Representatives of four local authorities to support projects in Ramallah. Matsuura, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs, signed contracts with mayors of four Palestinian municipalities and local councils to implement four news projects with fund made available through the Government of Japan through the Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
The signing ceremony was held at the Japan Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
A grant of US$121,605 was extended for Shawawreh Village Council to construct six additional classrooms in Al Halabi Mixed School. This project would solve the problem of lack of classrooms for 138 students and enable 430 students to enjoy a better learning environment.
A grant of US$120,741 was extended for Beit Ulla Municipality to construct nine additional classrooms in UNRWA Girls School of Beit Ulla. 393 students would enjoy learning in a better educational environment away from crowded classrooms.
A grant of US$ 121,770 was extended for Zawiya Municipality to rehabilitate 4300 meters of naked wires and upgrade the electricity network in the village by installing two new transformers. This would provide 900 households with safe and stable electricity supply.
A grant of US$ 120,450 was extended to Seilat Harthiya Municipality to rehabilitate 4000 meters of old wires and upgrade the electricity network in the village by installing a new transformer. Around 442 households would be directly affected by this project and thus benefiting from a safe and stable electricity supply.
Matsuura in his speeches emphasized Japan’s firm commitment to supporting Palestinian people from human security perspective as well as the importance of implementing social and economic development projects needed for Palestinian communities.
Since 1993 the Government of Japan has extended its official development assistance exceeding $1.4 billion, to the Palestinians. GGP projects have been formulated in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority through MoPAD since 2010.
The signing ceremony was held at the Japan Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
A grant of US$121,605 was extended for Shawawreh Village Council to construct six additional classrooms in Al Halabi Mixed School. This project would solve the problem of lack of classrooms for 138 students and enable 430 students to enjoy a better learning environment.
A grant of US$120,741 was extended for Beit Ulla Municipality to construct nine additional classrooms in UNRWA Girls School of Beit Ulla. 393 students would enjoy learning in a better educational environment away from crowded classrooms.
A grant of US$ 121,770 was extended for Zawiya Municipality to rehabilitate 4300 meters of naked wires and upgrade the electricity network in the village by installing two new transformers. This would provide 900 households with safe and stable electricity supply.
A grant of US$ 120,450 was extended to Seilat Harthiya Municipality to rehabilitate 4000 meters of old wires and upgrade the electricity network in the village by installing a new transformer. Around 442 households would be directly affected by this project and thus benefiting from a safe and stable electricity supply.
Matsuura in his speeches emphasized Japan’s firm commitment to supporting Palestinian people from human security perspective as well as the importance of implementing social and economic development projects needed for Palestinian communities.
Since 1993 the Government of Japan has extended its official development assistance exceeding $1.4 billion, to the Palestinians. GGP projects have been formulated in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority through MoPAD since 2010.
Palestinian workers have organized on Wednesday a protest vigil demanding lifting Israeli ban on construction materials, and calling on the international community to put an end to the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza Strip for 8 consecutive years. The protest vigil was organized by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions outside a building under suspended construction due to lack of building materials.
The participants held banners and chanted slogans calling for ending Israeli ban on construction materials and the ongoing siege on Gaza Strip.
MP Marwen Abu Ras stated that construction materials crisis in the besieged Strip has caused a sharp economic decline.
He called on Arab and Islamic countries to support Palestinian workers, expressing surprise at a decision by an Egyptian court against Gaza Strip in reference to classifying Hamas as "a terrorist movement".
For their part, the participant workers confirmed during the vigil that they had been facing very difficult living conditions especially during the past 6 months, calling for putting an end to their suffering.
For his part, head of the Palestine Federation of Trade Unions Sami Amassi stated that the unemployment rate in Gaza has continued to climb reaching 45% due to the continued Israeli restrictions on the besieged Strip amid an Arab and Islamic countries' silence and passive position.
Gaza's industrial zone has been significantly affected due to the continued siege, where 97% of factories and workshops have shut down, he noted, adding that 100 sewing factories were closed, which led to thousands of jobless workers in Gaza.
The participants held banners and chanted slogans calling for ending Israeli ban on construction materials and the ongoing siege on Gaza Strip.
MP Marwen Abu Ras stated that construction materials crisis in the besieged Strip has caused a sharp economic decline.
He called on Arab and Islamic countries to support Palestinian workers, expressing surprise at a decision by an Egyptian court against Gaza Strip in reference to classifying Hamas as "a terrorist movement".
For their part, the participant workers confirmed during the vigil that they had been facing very difficult living conditions especially during the past 6 months, calling for putting an end to their suffering.
For his part, head of the Palestine Federation of Trade Unions Sami Amassi stated that the unemployment rate in Gaza has continued to climb reaching 45% due to the continued Israeli restrictions on the besieged Strip amid an Arab and Islamic countries' silence and passive position.
Gaza's industrial zone has been significantly affected due to the continued siege, where 97% of factories and workshops have shut down, he noted, adding that 100 sewing factories were closed, which led to thousands of jobless workers in Gaza.
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) issued on Thursday a press release the results of the hotel activities survey in the West Bank during the Fourth Quarter 2013, as follows:
During the fourth quarter of 2013, 190,893 guests stayed in hotels in the West Bank, spending 489,517 nights. Of these nights, 33% were by guests from European Union countries, 8% by Palestinians, and 9% from the United States and Canada.
The percentage of hotel guests increased by 41% compared to the third quarter of 2013 and figures were also increased by 26% compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.
Hotel Room Occupancy during Fourth Quarter 2013
The room occupancy rate in the West Bank was 28% in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Room occupancy during the fourth quarter of 2013 increased by 22.3% compared to the third quarter of 2013 decreased by 0.7% than in the fourth quarter of 2012.
During the fourth quarter of 2013, there were 2,950 hotel workers: 2,265 males and 685 females.
Hotel Capacity by Region
In December 2013, 113 of the 120 hotels in the West Bank responded to the survey for the fourth quarter of 2013. They had available 6,072 rooms with a total of 13,902 beds. These were distributed by region as follows:
• North of West Bank: 16 hotels comprising 300 rooms with 878 beds.
• Middle of West Bank: 34 hotels comprising 1,481 rooms with 3,529 beds.
• Jerusalem: 28 hotels comprising 1,572 rooms with 3,490 beds.
• South of West Bank: 35 hotels comprising 2,719 rooms with 6,005 beds.
During the fourth quarter of 2013, 190,893 guests stayed in hotels in the West Bank, spending 489,517 nights. Of these nights, 33% were by guests from European Union countries, 8% by Palestinians, and 9% from the United States and Canada.
The percentage of hotel guests increased by 41% compared to the third quarter of 2013 and figures were also increased by 26% compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.
Hotel Room Occupancy during Fourth Quarter 2013
The room occupancy rate in the West Bank was 28% in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Room occupancy during the fourth quarter of 2013 increased by 22.3% compared to the third quarter of 2013 decreased by 0.7% than in the fourth quarter of 2012.
During the fourth quarter of 2013, there were 2,950 hotel workers: 2,265 males and 685 females.
Hotel Capacity by Region
In December 2013, 113 of the 120 hotels in the West Bank responded to the survey for the fourth quarter of 2013. They had available 6,072 rooms with a total of 13,902 beds. These were distributed by region as follows:
• North of West Bank: 16 hotels comprising 300 rooms with 878 beds.
• Middle of West Bank: 34 hotels comprising 1,481 rooms with 3,529 beds.
• Jerusalem: 28 hotels comprising 1,572 rooms with 3,490 beds.
• South of West Bank: 35 hotels comprising 2,719 rooms with 6,005 beds.
5 mar 2014
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During the month of February 2014, TIPH distributed sports equipment to four organizations working with mentally and physically challenged children in Hebron. Amal Deaf School, Blind Charitable society, Al-Ihsan Centre and Raja Centre received equipment adapted to the specific needs of the children, said a TIPH press release on Wednesday.
TIPH's Community Relations section, together with observers from the mission, were offered coffee and a tour of the facilities when they delivered the equipment to the four organizations; they also used this opportunity to inform the children and staff about TIPH's work and mandate Such donations are part of a larger TIPH project that started in May 2013, when the Mission financed |
similar sports equipment for the Tareq Ibn Ziad (TBZ) Community Centre; the project also involved the transportation of the children to weekly training sessions taking place 16 hours per month in the TBZ Centre.
The organizations were lacking suitable space for training, as well as equipment and means of transportation to training facilities. TIPH is therefore very happy to support this project and to contribute to the well-being and to the inclusion of this vulnerable and, sometimes, marginalized group of society, says Adnan Kharoubi, TIPH Community Relation Officer.
The project is the result of cooperation between TIPH, the Tareq Ibn Ziyad Community Centre and the Fédération sportive et gymnique du travail, FSGT, who trained the children. FSGT also provided the trainers of the beneficiary organizations with new skills that will enable them to continue with the training in their own facilities after the end of the project in May 2014.
TIPH is, in accordance with its mandate, assisting in the efforts to promote the well-being of the Palestinian population in Hebron. Through its Community Relations section, it therefore supports projects aimed at improving the welfare in the local community. The projects are implemented with local non-profit organisations active in Hebron.
The organizations were lacking suitable space for training, as well as equipment and means of transportation to training facilities. TIPH is therefore very happy to support this project and to contribute to the well-being and to the inclusion of this vulnerable and, sometimes, marginalized group of society, says Adnan Kharoubi, TIPH Community Relation Officer.
The project is the result of cooperation between TIPH, the Tareq Ibn Ziyad Community Centre and the Fédération sportive et gymnique du travail, FSGT, who trained the children. FSGT also provided the trainers of the beneficiary organizations with new skills that will enable them to continue with the training in their own facilities after the end of the project in May 2014.
TIPH is, in accordance with its mandate, assisting in the efforts to promote the well-being of the Palestinian population in Hebron. Through its Community Relations section, it therefore supports projects aimed at improving the welfare in the local community. The projects are implemented with local non-profit organisations active in Hebron.
3 mar 2014
Palestinian deputy minister of economy Hatem Oweida called on Egypt to necessarily activate the economic cooperation file with the Gaza Strip, and contribute to lifting the Gazan population out of the grinding blockade imposed on them for nearly eight years. Oweida made his remarks on Sunday in the radio program "an interview with an official" that is hosted by the ministry of information in Gaza.
"The continued Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip restricts the movements of goods, especially building materials, food supplies and medicines that has reached levels not meeting the needs of the population in the Gaza Strip," the deputy minister of economy stated.
He appealed to the international community to urgently move to end the blockade on Gaza and ensure the free movement of goods and individuals at Gaza crossings according to the international law.
The official noted that Egypt's closure of the Rafah border crossing and tunnels worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, affirming that the Rafah tunnels had met the vital needs of the Gaza population by at least 40 percent.
"The continued Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip restricts the movements of goods, especially building materials, food supplies and medicines that has reached levels not meeting the needs of the population in the Gaza Strip," the deputy minister of economy stated.
He appealed to the international community to urgently move to end the blockade on Gaza and ensure the free movement of goods and individuals at Gaza crossings according to the international law.
The official noted that Egypt's closure of the Rafah border crossing and tunnels worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, affirming that the Rafah tunnels had met the vital needs of the Gaza population by at least 40 percent.
2 mar 2014
Abbas-appointed prime minister Rami Hamdallah delivers his speech in Jakarta
Japan has pledged more than $200 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority, as representatives from 22 nations reiterated their support of the Palestinians’ quest for their own state. The pledge was announced Saturday at the second Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the first disbursement of the aid — about $62 million — was expected later this month.
Ministers and high-ranking officials from 22 countries and five international organizations participated in the one-day conference, which was jointly chaired by Indonesia, the Palestinian Authority and Japan.
The conference is aimed at renewing continuous commitment to support the Palestinian Authority so it is able to provide essential services to the Palestinian people.
Japan has pledged more than $200 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority, as representatives from 22 nations reiterated their support of the Palestinians’ quest for their own state. The pledge was announced Saturday at the second Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the first disbursement of the aid — about $62 million — was expected later this month.
Ministers and high-ranking officials from 22 countries and five international organizations participated in the one-day conference, which was jointly chaired by Indonesia, the Palestinian Authority and Japan.
The conference is aimed at renewing continuous commitment to support the Palestinian Authority so it is able to provide essential services to the Palestinian people.
Undersecretary of Ministry of Economy Hatem Owaida during a conference
Ministry of Economy in Gaza observed several economic regressions over the second half of 2013 as a result of tunnel closure and continued siege. Undersecretary Hatem Owaida said that unemployment rate has risen from 31% to 39% since July 2013, whereas gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by half in 2013 with 12.2% compared to 26% in 2012, amid population growth of about 4%.
The poverty rate amounted up to 38.8%, and the extreme poverty was up to 21%, Owaida added in a press conference held Sunday at Ministry of Information in Gaza.
He stated that the government in Gaza has made instrumental efforts to relieve the living conditions, refuting World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s attribution of the slight economic relief to the Israeli occupation’s measures.
The government has accorded high priority to import substitution in 2013, improving the GDP level by 2%, the official added.
The volume of imports via the Karm Abu Salem crossing hit about 1.3 billion dollars, despite the fact the overall imports allowed into Gaza during 2013 do not meet 35-40% of the needs of the population, noting that an export of only 191 truckloads were allowed out.
Owaida called for an urgent action by the international community to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the ban on the passage of people and goods.
The ministry is seeking to beef up cooperation between the public and private sectors to resolve the current economic crisis with allowing for much support of small enterprise and import substitution.
Ministry of Economy in Gaza observed several economic regressions over the second half of 2013 as a result of tunnel closure and continued siege. Undersecretary Hatem Owaida said that unemployment rate has risen from 31% to 39% since July 2013, whereas gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by half in 2013 with 12.2% compared to 26% in 2012, amid population growth of about 4%.
The poverty rate amounted up to 38.8%, and the extreme poverty was up to 21%, Owaida added in a press conference held Sunday at Ministry of Information in Gaza.
He stated that the government in Gaza has made instrumental efforts to relieve the living conditions, refuting World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s attribution of the slight economic relief to the Israeli occupation’s measures.
The government has accorded high priority to import substitution in 2013, improving the GDP level by 2%, the official added.
The volume of imports via the Karm Abu Salem crossing hit about 1.3 billion dollars, despite the fact the overall imports allowed into Gaza during 2013 do not meet 35-40% of the needs of the population, noting that an export of only 191 truckloads were allowed out.
Owaida called for an urgent action by the international community to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the ban on the passage of people and goods.
The ministry is seeking to beef up cooperation between the public and private sectors to resolve the current economic crisis with allowing for much support of small enterprise and import substitution.
26 feb 2014
On the roof of Gaza City's children's hospital, a pristine row of solar panels gleams in the sunlight, an out-of-place symbol of modern, clean energy in the impoverished Strip.
As the coastal Palestinian territory lives through the worst fuel shortage in its history, many of Gaza's 1.6 million inhabitants are beginning to see solar power not just as a viable alternative, but perhaps as the only solution to the energy crisis.
"We were forced to consider relying on solar power alone after the energy crisis that events in Egypt brought about," said hospital director Nabil al-Burqani, referring to the closure of cross-border tunnels which halted the fuel supply into Gaza.
"We need solar energy in order to keep up care for babies in the maternity ward," he told AFP.
"If there's just a minute-long cut to the electricity that runs the baby incubators, a child could die."
Gazans have learned to live with daily power outages of up to 12 hours that have affected private homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, and water and sanitation plants.
The ruling Hamas movement has blamed the crisis on Egypt's destruction of cross-border tunnels which had been used for importing fuel, a decision implemented after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
The tunnels had played a key role in Gaza's economy since 2006, when Israel imposed a blockade after the capture of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid. The restrictions were tightened the following year when Hamas seized power.
Safer than generators
By harnessing the energy of the intense sunlight that beats down on the coastal enclave most of the year, Gazans are optimistic they can overcome the crisis in the long term.
And initial setup costs -- which include buying and installing panels and converters, and the batteries needed to run them -- are potentially outweighed by the benefits.
The project at the children's hospital, which was partly funded by British relief charity Sawaed, was set up in January 2013 at a cost of $100,000 and is now providing 20 kilowatts of electricity per day.
Elsewhere, a Kuwaiti donation of $6 million is paying for the construction of five new schools, all of which will be equipped with solar panels, the education ministry said.
But the solar drive is not limited only to large-scale foreign-funded projects.
Individual families, if they can afford the initial outlay, are also switching to solar, which promises to be a much safer alternative than generators.
After the fuel crisis kicked in, mobile back-up generators quickly became commonplace, but were often unsafe, causing a string of deaths through explosions, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Shadi Jawwad bought solar panels for his home in the central Gaza Strip after getting a bank loan.
"There's no electricity or fuel to run the generators or the power station in Gaza, but we can use the sun," the 44-year-old government worker said.
"My own solar set-up cost 5,000 shekels ($1,400), and with it I can get enough electricity to light my home and keep the television on for several hours, even during the regular power cuts to the main supply," Jawwad told AFP.
"This is a safe way of keeping my home running ... And I only make one down-payment to set up the solar power system, rather than having to buy more petrol every day for my generator at fluctuating and often extortionate prices."
Figures released by the UN humanitarian agency OCHA show that in November, Gaza received less than 20,000 liters of fuel per week, down from nearly a million liters a day when the tunnels were operating.
Gaza's sole power station ground to a halt on Nov. 1 after diesel stocks ran out. It only went back online 50 days later after a delivery of Israeli fuel which was paid for by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
But the need to seek alternatives to carbon-based fuels appears to be sinking in.
On its website, Gaza's energy authority says it is looking to introduce "a strategy to encourage solar energy use," in the hope that by 2020, solar power will account for 20 percent of the territory's energy consumption.
For now, it is relying on a stock of solar equipment which was brought through the tunnels before Egypt shut them.
As the coastal Palestinian territory lives through the worst fuel shortage in its history, many of Gaza's 1.6 million inhabitants are beginning to see solar power not just as a viable alternative, but perhaps as the only solution to the energy crisis.
"We were forced to consider relying on solar power alone after the energy crisis that events in Egypt brought about," said hospital director Nabil al-Burqani, referring to the closure of cross-border tunnels which halted the fuel supply into Gaza.
"We need solar energy in order to keep up care for babies in the maternity ward," he told AFP.
"If there's just a minute-long cut to the electricity that runs the baby incubators, a child could die."
Gazans have learned to live with daily power outages of up to 12 hours that have affected private homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, and water and sanitation plants.
The ruling Hamas movement has blamed the crisis on Egypt's destruction of cross-border tunnels which had been used for importing fuel, a decision implemented after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
The tunnels had played a key role in Gaza's economy since 2006, when Israel imposed a blockade after the capture of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid. The restrictions were tightened the following year when Hamas seized power.
Safer than generators
By harnessing the energy of the intense sunlight that beats down on the coastal enclave most of the year, Gazans are optimistic they can overcome the crisis in the long term.
And initial setup costs -- which include buying and installing panels and converters, and the batteries needed to run them -- are potentially outweighed by the benefits.
The project at the children's hospital, which was partly funded by British relief charity Sawaed, was set up in January 2013 at a cost of $100,000 and is now providing 20 kilowatts of electricity per day.
Elsewhere, a Kuwaiti donation of $6 million is paying for the construction of five new schools, all of which will be equipped with solar panels, the education ministry said.
But the solar drive is not limited only to large-scale foreign-funded projects.
Individual families, if they can afford the initial outlay, are also switching to solar, which promises to be a much safer alternative than generators.
After the fuel crisis kicked in, mobile back-up generators quickly became commonplace, but were often unsafe, causing a string of deaths through explosions, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Shadi Jawwad bought solar panels for his home in the central Gaza Strip after getting a bank loan.
"There's no electricity or fuel to run the generators or the power station in Gaza, but we can use the sun," the 44-year-old government worker said.
"My own solar set-up cost 5,000 shekels ($1,400), and with it I can get enough electricity to light my home and keep the television on for several hours, even during the regular power cuts to the main supply," Jawwad told AFP.
"This is a safe way of keeping my home running ... And I only make one down-payment to set up the solar power system, rather than having to buy more petrol every day for my generator at fluctuating and often extortionate prices."
Figures released by the UN humanitarian agency OCHA show that in November, Gaza received less than 20,000 liters of fuel per week, down from nearly a million liters a day when the tunnels were operating.
Gaza's sole power station ground to a halt on Nov. 1 after diesel stocks ran out. It only went back online 50 days later after a delivery of Israeli fuel which was paid for by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
But the need to seek alternatives to carbon-based fuels appears to be sinking in.
On its website, Gaza's energy authority says it is looking to introduce "a strategy to encourage solar energy use," in the hope that by 2020, solar power will account for 20 percent of the territory's energy consumption.
For now, it is relying on a stock of solar equipment which was brought through the tunnels before Egypt shut them.
25 feb 2014
A member of the Palestinian committee for organizing electricity on Tuesday denied that the regional Israeli electricity company had threatened to disconnect electricity for the West Bank.
Mujahid Salameh told Ma’an that Israel informed the Palestinian Authority through Quartet envoy Tony Blair that it would not disconnect electricity.
He said an agreement that organizes the relationship between PA and the electricity company was proposed, and it will ensure that the Palestinian territories will be treated as a state and receive a reduced tariff.
New arrangements might take place within two months, he added.
On Friday, the Jerusalem District Electricity Company's director said it has proposed to raise the price of electricity across the West Bank after the PA failed to pay millions of shekels in debt.
Hisham al-Omari told Ma'an that the company gave the PA two options, either to pay the 400 million shekels ($110 million) of debt, or raise electricity tariffs to become equivalent to Israel.
Al-Omari said that the problem stems from the PA's failure to pay its debts to the company, causing the company to face issues with the Israeli regional electricity company.
The government is still studying the proposal, he added.
Al-Omari ruled out the possibility of disconnecting electricity to areas in the West Bank, and denied knowledge of any plans that the Israeli regional company might disconnect service to the West Bank.
He explained that there has been a decrease in the number of people paying their monthly bills on time, adding that out of a monthly total of bills amounting to 120 million shekels ($35 million), less than 70 percent are paid regularly.
The business page of Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronot reported Thursday that the director of the Israel electricity corporation, Yitfach Ron-Tal, sent a letter the Israeli government demanding it to either commit to paying the debts of the PA, or allow the company to disconnect electricity.
The letter was sent days earlier, and highlighted that debts had reached 1.3 billion shekels ($370 million), a figure which was increasing by 75 million shekels ($21 million) each month, it was reported.
In the letter, Ron-Tal provided three options available for the company: reducing electricity provided to Palestinians, filing a lawsuit in the higher Israeli court, or asking the government to approve plans to disconnect electricity to the Palestinian company beginning Feb. 23.
Mujahid Salameh told Ma’an that Israel informed the Palestinian Authority through Quartet envoy Tony Blair that it would not disconnect electricity.
He said an agreement that organizes the relationship between PA and the electricity company was proposed, and it will ensure that the Palestinian territories will be treated as a state and receive a reduced tariff.
New arrangements might take place within two months, he added.
On Friday, the Jerusalem District Electricity Company's director said it has proposed to raise the price of electricity across the West Bank after the PA failed to pay millions of shekels in debt.
Hisham al-Omari told Ma'an that the company gave the PA two options, either to pay the 400 million shekels ($110 million) of debt, or raise electricity tariffs to become equivalent to Israel.
Al-Omari said that the problem stems from the PA's failure to pay its debts to the company, causing the company to face issues with the Israeli regional electricity company.
The government is still studying the proposal, he added.
Al-Omari ruled out the possibility of disconnecting electricity to areas in the West Bank, and denied knowledge of any plans that the Israeli regional company might disconnect service to the West Bank.
He explained that there has been a decrease in the number of people paying their monthly bills on time, adding that out of a monthly total of bills amounting to 120 million shekels ($35 million), less than 70 percent are paid regularly.
The business page of Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronot reported Thursday that the director of the Israel electricity corporation, Yitfach Ron-Tal, sent a letter the Israeli government demanding it to either commit to paying the debts of the PA, or allow the company to disconnect electricity.
The letter was sent days earlier, and highlighted that debts had reached 1.3 billion shekels ($370 million), a figure which was increasing by 75 million shekels ($21 million) each month, it was reported.
In the letter, Ron-Tal provided three options available for the company: reducing electricity provided to Palestinians, filing a lawsuit in the higher Israeli court, or asking the government to approve plans to disconnect electricity to the Palestinian company beginning Feb. 23.
24 feb 2014
Ministry of Economy said that (Israel) has allowed 180 truckloads into Gaza Strip through Karam Abu Salem crossing, south eastern Rafah governorate. Undersecretary Hatem Oweidah told ALRAY that the allowed trucks are loaded with cargo designated for commercial and agricultural sectors.
Limited amounts of fuels including diesel fuel for the Gaza’s power plant were entered as well, he said.
He added that one truckload of green herbs is scheduled for export to Europe.
The occupation authorities closes Karam abu Salem crossing repeatedly allegedly for security reasons and Jewish holidays, conversely affecting the every the everyday life in Gaza, as it is the only commercial crossing that connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world.
The import of basic construction materials to Gaza has been severely restricted since the imposition of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip in June 2007, following the Hamas’s rise to power.
Since July 2013 and the subsequent crackdown on the smuggling tunnels with Egypt, which stood as the lifeline for the 1.7 Gaza population, the enclave has been suffering a severe shortage of construction materials.
Limited amounts of fuels including diesel fuel for the Gaza’s power plant were entered as well, he said.
He added that one truckload of green herbs is scheduled for export to Europe.
The occupation authorities closes Karam abu Salem crossing repeatedly allegedly for security reasons and Jewish holidays, conversely affecting the every the everyday life in Gaza, as it is the only commercial crossing that connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world.
The import of basic construction materials to Gaza has been severely restricted since the imposition of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip in June 2007, following the Hamas’s rise to power.
Since July 2013 and the subsequent crackdown on the smuggling tunnels with Egypt, which stood as the lifeline for the 1.7 Gaza population, the enclave has been suffering a severe shortage of construction materials.
Egypt's closure of tunnels and Israel's ban on shipping building materials into the Gaza Strip left more than 70.000 construction workers, professionals and engineers jobless, the Palestinian contractors union said on Sunday. Nabil Abu Muailaq the Director of the union told ALRAY that 30,000 workers in various economic sectors have been affected directly and another 40,000 were affected indirectly due to this siege .
He pointed out that the construction and service sectors and industries depending on them, such as craft workshop and transportation equipment stopped working as a result of the siege and closure imposed on the enclave.
He made clear that 95 percent of construction companies are completely cracked and 5 present are still working at Qatari and UN projects .
The construction sector is considered the biggest one that employs workers and contributes in 27 percent of GDP which is about 135 million dollars during the second quarter of 2013.
Israel froze shipments of building materials to the Gaza Strip after discovering an alleged "terror tunnel" entering its borders from the adjoining territory.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2007.
The blockade was imposed following the victory of the Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections and the subsequent 2007 events.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
He pointed out that the construction and service sectors and industries depending on them, such as craft workshop and transportation equipment stopped working as a result of the siege and closure imposed on the enclave.
He made clear that 95 percent of construction companies are completely cracked and 5 present are still working at Qatari and UN projects .
The construction sector is considered the biggest one that employs workers and contributes in 27 percent of GDP which is about 135 million dollars during the second quarter of 2013.
Israel froze shipments of building materials to the Gaza Strip after discovering an alleged "terror tunnel" entering its borders from the adjoining territory.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2007.
The blockade was imposed following the victory of the Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections and the subsequent 2007 events.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
21 feb 2014
The Jerusalem District Electricity Company has proposed to raise the price of electricity across the West Bank after the PA failed to pay millions of shekels in debt, the company's director said on Friday.
Hisham al-Omari told Ma'an that the company gave the Palestinian Authority two options, either to pay the 400 million shekels ($110 million) of debt, or raise electricity tariffs to become equivalent to Israel.
Al-Omari said that the problem stems from the PA's failure to pay its debts to the company, causing the company to face issues with the Israeli regional electricity company.
The government is still studying the proposal, he added.
Al-Omari ruled out the possibility of disconnecting electricity to areas in the West Bank, and denied knowledge of any plans that the Israeli regional company might disconnect service to the West Bank.
He explained that there has been a decrease in the number of people paying their monthly bills on time, adding that out of a monthly total of bills amounting to 120 million shekels ($35 million), less than 70 percent are paid regularly.
The business page of Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronot had reported on Thursday that the director of the Israel electricity corporation, Yitfach Ron-Tal, sent a letter the Israeli government demanding it to either commit to paying the debts of the PA, or allow the company to disconnect electricity.
The letter was reportedly sent a few days ago, and highlighted that debts had reached 1.3 billion shekels ($370 million), a figure which was increasing by 75 million shekels ($21 million) each month, it was reported.
In the letter, Ron-Tal provided three options available for the company: reducing electricity provided to Palestinians, filing a lawsuit in the higher Israeli court, or asking the government to approve plans to disconnect electricity to the Palestinian company beginning Feb. 23.
Hisham al-Omari told Ma'an that the company gave the Palestinian Authority two options, either to pay the 400 million shekels ($110 million) of debt, or raise electricity tariffs to become equivalent to Israel.
Al-Omari said that the problem stems from the PA's failure to pay its debts to the company, causing the company to face issues with the Israeli regional electricity company.
The government is still studying the proposal, he added.
Al-Omari ruled out the possibility of disconnecting electricity to areas in the West Bank, and denied knowledge of any plans that the Israeli regional company might disconnect service to the West Bank.
He explained that there has been a decrease in the number of people paying their monthly bills on time, adding that out of a monthly total of bills amounting to 120 million shekels ($35 million), less than 70 percent are paid regularly.
The business page of Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronot had reported on Thursday that the director of the Israel electricity corporation, Yitfach Ron-Tal, sent a letter the Israeli government demanding it to either commit to paying the debts of the PA, or allow the company to disconnect electricity.
The letter was reportedly sent a few days ago, and highlighted that debts had reached 1.3 billion shekels ($370 million), a figure which was increasing by 75 million shekels ($21 million) each month, it was reported.
In the letter, Ron-Tal provided three options available for the company: reducing electricity provided to Palestinians, filing a lawsuit in the higher Israeli court, or asking the government to approve plans to disconnect electricity to the Palestinian company beginning Feb. 23.
An agreement Thursday reached to form a Palestinian-Israeli team to address common environmental issues between the two sides, said Israel Radio.
According to the radio, a meeting was held between the Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection, Amir Peretz and Deputy Head of Environmental Department Jamal Mtour agreed to form a team to meet every month to discuss solutions to the biggest ecological problems facing the region today.
Topics discussed included preventing pollution, alternative solutions to waste management, and facing potential health hazards if industrialization increases in the area.
According to the radio, a meeting was held between the Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection, Amir Peretz and Deputy Head of Environmental Department Jamal Mtour agreed to form a team to meet every month to discuss solutions to the biggest ecological problems facing the region today.
Topics discussed included preventing pollution, alternative solutions to waste management, and facing potential health hazards if industrialization increases in the area.
An Israeli electricity company Thursday threatened to cut off supplies to the West Bank over unpaid debts, and said that it would also cut off electricity to the West Bank and Jerusalem completely starting on Sunday, 23 February.
Chairman of the company,Yiftach Ron-Tal, sent a letter to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding the Israeli government to collect the debts from the Palestinian Authority (PA) or allow him to cut off supplies to the West Bank.
Ron-Tal said that he will file a lawsuit against Israel to exert pressure on the government in order to help his company collect unpaid bills from the PA, which reached up to 1.3 billion shekels.
Chairman of the company,Yiftach Ron-Tal, sent a letter to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding the Israeli government to collect the debts from the Palestinian Authority (PA) or allow him to cut off supplies to the West Bank.
Ron-Tal said that he will file a lawsuit against Israel to exert pressure on the government in order to help his company collect unpaid bills from the PA, which reached up to 1.3 billion shekels.
