26 mar 2014
MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against siege, said that the poverty and unemployment rates in Gaza had surpassed 50% due to the Israeli blockade that entered its 8th year running. Khudari said in a press release on Wednesday that more than one million citizens in Gaza Strip depend on relief aid to survive while the per capita income does not exceed two dollars a day.
He pointed out that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was horrifically worsening and affecting all aspects of life.
The MP asked the world community to diligently work for lifting the siege on Gaza so as to avoid further deteriorating of the humanitarian conditions.
Around two million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip under harsh economic and humanitarian conditions due to the Israeli blockade and the Egyptian closure of all border tunnels, which used to provide the beleaguered Strip with a portion of its needs.
He pointed out that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was horrifically worsening and affecting all aspects of life.
The MP asked the world community to diligently work for lifting the siege on Gaza so as to avoid further deteriorating of the humanitarian conditions.
Around two million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip under harsh economic and humanitarian conditions due to the Israeli blockade and the Egyptian closure of all border tunnels, which used to provide the beleaguered Strip with a portion of its needs.
25 mar 2014
Rola Ma'aya, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities received in the ministry's headquarters in Bethlehem, Mr. Teguh Wardoyo, Indonesia's ambassador to Jordan and Palestine and Mr. Fariz Mahdawi, Palestine's ambassador to Indonesia, in the presence of Sayel al-Deek, General Director of tourism services in the ministry.
Minister Ma'aya welcomed the new Indonesian Ambassador and wished him success in his new post as an ambassador to Palestine.
Ma'aya valued the relationship between the two countries and the efforts made by the Indonesian Government to support Palestine in the various aspects of life. She also emphasized the importance of building strong relationships between the two countries.
Ma'aya familiarized them with the plans and programs of the ministry that aim at prompting and developing the tourism in Palestine.
Ma'aya talked about the current situation in Palestine and the obstacles imposed by Israel on the tourism sector. She pointed out to the efforts made by the ministry to improve the services provided to tourists, through the opening of the archaeological sites and museums for the visitors, in addition to promote all the cities and Palestinian sites, stressing on the importance of tourism to Palestine, not only economically, but also for giving a good image about Palestine.
The Indonesian Ambassador expressed his pleasure for being in Palestine, adding that his country will remain committed to supporting the Palestine in many forums, especially the tourism.
Both countries agreed on the importance of encouraging the religious tourism to Palestine through cooperation between Palestinian and Indonesian tourism agencies, and cooperation with Jordan to promote joint tourist programs that include Jordan and Palestine and promote these programs in Indonesia.
At the end of the meeting it was agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding between the three parties concerning this issue.
Minister Ma'aya welcomed the new Indonesian Ambassador and wished him success in his new post as an ambassador to Palestine.
Ma'aya valued the relationship between the two countries and the efforts made by the Indonesian Government to support Palestine in the various aspects of life. She also emphasized the importance of building strong relationships between the two countries.
Ma'aya familiarized them with the plans and programs of the ministry that aim at prompting and developing the tourism in Palestine.
Ma'aya talked about the current situation in Palestine and the obstacles imposed by Israel on the tourism sector. She pointed out to the efforts made by the ministry to improve the services provided to tourists, through the opening of the archaeological sites and museums for the visitors, in addition to promote all the cities and Palestinian sites, stressing on the importance of tourism to Palestine, not only economically, but also for giving a good image about Palestine.
The Indonesian Ambassador expressed his pleasure for being in Palestine, adding that his country will remain committed to supporting the Palestine in many forums, especially the tourism.
Both countries agreed on the importance of encouraging the religious tourism to Palestine through cooperation between Palestinian and Indonesian tourism agencies, and cooperation with Jordan to promote joint tourist programs that include Jordan and Palestine and promote these programs in Indonesia.
At the end of the meeting it was agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding between the three parties concerning this issue.
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said that the Construction Cost Index for residential buildings reached 100.37 with an increase of 0.23% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base year 2013=100).
The Construction Cost Index for residential buildings increased due to the increase in the prices of both groups; raw materials by 0.33%, and rental of equipments by 0.22% during February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Construction Cost Index for Non-residential Buildings
The Construction Cost Index for non-residential buildings reached 100.32 with an increase of 0.23% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base year 2013=100).
The Construction Cost Index for non-residential buildings increased due to the increase in the prices of both groups; raw materials by 0.32%, and rental of equipments by 0.23% during February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Construction Cost Index for Skeleton Buildings
The Construction Cost Index for skeleton buildings reached 100.34 with an increase of 0.53% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base year 2013=100).
The Construction Cost Index for skeleton buildings increased due to the increase in the prices of both groups; raw materials by 0.76%, and rental of equipments by 0.17% during February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Road Cost Index (RCI)
The overall Road Cost Index (RCI) reached 117.19 with an increase of 0.14% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base month December 2008=100).
The Road Cost Index for February 2014 increased due to the increase in the prices of raw materials by 0.14%, rental of equipments by 0.36%, and transportation fees by 0.12%. While, operating costs of equipment & maintenance decreased by 0.56% during February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Water Networks Cost Index (WNCI)
The overall Water Networks Cost Index (WNCI) reached 111.56 with an increase of 0.65% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base month January 2010=100).
Water reservoirs cost Index reached 109.10 with an increase of 0.84%. Also, Water Networks Cost Index reached 112.68 with an increase of 0.57% for February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Sewage Networks Cost Index
The overall Sewage Networks Cost Index (SNCI) reached 108.33 with an increase of 0.77% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base month January 2010=100).
Note:
The data of the West Bank doesn't cover those parts of Jerusalem which were annexed by Israel in 1967.
NB:
1. Gaza Strip data is not available.
2. The difference in the percentage change in major groups of road, construction, water networks, and sewage networks cost index is due to the nature compositions of these major groups.
*Data collection of Construction, Road, Water Networks, and Sewage Networks Cost Index survey was funded by the European Union.
The Construction Cost Index for residential buildings increased due to the increase in the prices of both groups; raw materials by 0.33%, and rental of equipments by 0.22% during February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Construction Cost Index for Non-residential Buildings
The Construction Cost Index for non-residential buildings reached 100.32 with an increase of 0.23% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base year 2013=100).
The Construction Cost Index for non-residential buildings increased due to the increase in the prices of both groups; raw materials by 0.32%, and rental of equipments by 0.23% during February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Construction Cost Index for Skeleton Buildings
The Construction Cost Index for skeleton buildings reached 100.34 with an increase of 0.53% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base year 2013=100).
The Construction Cost Index for skeleton buildings increased due to the increase in the prices of both groups; raw materials by 0.76%, and rental of equipments by 0.17% during February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Road Cost Index (RCI)
The overall Road Cost Index (RCI) reached 117.19 with an increase of 0.14% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base month December 2008=100).
The Road Cost Index for February 2014 increased due to the increase in the prices of raw materials by 0.14%, rental of equipments by 0.36%, and transportation fees by 0.12%. While, operating costs of equipment & maintenance decreased by 0.56% during February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Water Networks Cost Index (WNCI)
The overall Water Networks Cost Index (WNCI) reached 111.56 with an increase of 0.65% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base month January 2010=100).
Water reservoirs cost Index reached 109.10 with an increase of 0.84%. Also, Water Networks Cost Index reached 112.68 with an increase of 0.57% for February 2014 compared to previous month.
Increase in the Sewage Networks Cost Index
The overall Sewage Networks Cost Index (SNCI) reached 108.33 with an increase of 0.77% in the West Bank during February 2014 compared to January 2014 (base month January 2010=100).
Note:
The data of the West Bank doesn't cover those parts of Jerusalem which were annexed by Israel in 1967.
NB:
1. Gaza Strip data is not available.
2. The difference in the percentage change in major groups of road, construction, water networks, and sewage networks cost index is due to the nature compositions of these major groups.
*Data collection of Construction, Road, Water Networks, and Sewage Networks Cost Index survey was funded by the European Union.
24 mar 2014
PA minister of health Jawad Awwad
Two Palestinian ministers will visit the al-Maqasid Hospital in East Jerusalem to discuss a severe financial crisis the hospital has been facing for several years.
A public information officer of the Palestinian ministry of health confirmed Monday that minister Jawad Awwad and minister of finance Shukri Bishara would visit al-Maqasid Hospital Tuesday. Omar al-Nasr added that the ministry had been following up with the financial crisis and the protests by employees in the central East Jerusalem hospital.
The al-Maqasid Hospital, on the Mount of Olives, is the main recipient of patients referred by the PA ministry of health from the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
The hospital has been suffering from a crippling financial crisis in the past few years. The administration and the employees’ union say the crisis emerged because the PA doesn’t pay regularly on behalf of hundreds of patients referred by its ministry from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Al-Nasr highlighted that the ministry transferred in February and March 6,129,000 shekels to the hospital. More money will be transferred, he added, when the government transfers it to the ministry’s budget.
Two Palestinian ministers will visit the al-Maqasid Hospital in East Jerusalem to discuss a severe financial crisis the hospital has been facing for several years.
A public information officer of the Palestinian ministry of health confirmed Monday that minister Jawad Awwad and minister of finance Shukri Bishara would visit al-Maqasid Hospital Tuesday. Omar al-Nasr added that the ministry had been following up with the financial crisis and the protests by employees in the central East Jerusalem hospital.
The al-Maqasid Hospital, on the Mount of Olives, is the main recipient of patients referred by the PA ministry of health from the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
The hospital has been suffering from a crippling financial crisis in the past few years. The administration and the employees’ union say the crisis emerged because the PA doesn’t pay regularly on behalf of hundreds of patients referred by its ministry from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Al-Nasr highlighted that the ministry transferred in February and March 6,129,000 shekels to the hospital. More money will be transferred, he added, when the government transfers it to the ministry’s budget.
The roof of Gaza City's children's hospital
By Juan Cole
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.
Although the Israeli restrictions have since been eased, the tunnels continued to be the main conduit for fuel.
- 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 (74,000 euros) 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 ($1,400/1,000 euros), 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 litres of fuel per week, down from nearly a million litres a day when the tunnels were operating.
Gaza's sole power station ground to a halt on November 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.
Source:informed COMMENT
By Juan Cole
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.
Although the Israeli restrictions have since been eased, the tunnels continued to be the main conduit for fuel.
- 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 (74,000 euros) 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 ($1,400/1,000 euros), 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 litres of fuel per week, down from nearly a million litres a day when the tunnels were operating.
Gaza's sole power station ground to a halt on November 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.
Source:informed COMMENT
19 mar 2014
Mohammad Mustafa, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, announced that the Palestinian Government is requesting proposals from interested firms to explore and develop oil in the West Bank.
The License Area extends over 432 Km2 from north of the city of Qalqilya to the west of Ramallah as shown in the attached map.
The tender documents were prepared under the supervision of a special Ministerial Committee headed by Mustafa and with the aid of international expert firms such as Exploration Reservoir Consultants Ltd. "ERCL", who specializes in consultancy for oil exploration, and the international law firm Ashurst, one of the world's leading firms in oil and gas law.
Initial studies have indicated that the license area may hold oil reserves ranging between 30 million and 186 million barrels.
The tender is available for public bidding, and will be open to bids for a period ending June 30th 2014, after which all the bids will be evaluated by the Ministerial Committee with the aid of a technical committee that will be formed for that purpose, and with the assistance of the international consultants who helped in preparing for the tender. Bids are to be submitted to the ministerial committee, whose address –as well as more detailed information regarding the project and application procedures- could be found at the project's website: www.palexploration.ps
The project as a whole is expected to generate proceeds exceeding one billion USD to the Palestinian Government over the life of the field, including cash inflows in the form of taxes, royalties and other bonuses and payments specified in the model contract for the project.
The Palestine Investment Fund ("PIF"), a state-owned sovereign development fund, will participate in the project through entering with the selected bidder into a joint venture (JV) in which the PIF will have an ownership stake subject to bidding (with a minimum value of 25%). The PIF will participate in the JV by providing its share of the JV's capital. Consequently, the PIF will be part of the consortium in charge of developing the project, as is the industry norm for state investment arms in international oil projects.
"The existence of oil in Palestine is a highly promising opportunity for the Palestinian economy" Mustafa said. He further emphasized the potential for a big shift in the Palestinian economy's trajectory as a result of such a project, which is considered the first of its kind in the country.
"Having local oil supply will alleviate some of the costs borne by the Palestinian economy on oil imports" Mustafa added.
Moreover, Mustafa stressed the fact that "a project of this size and nature will enhance Palestinian utilization of local natural resources, and will be a stepping stone to a multitude of other projects concerning developing available natural resources including those in Al-Aghwar Region, in the Dead Sea, as well as offshore Gaza, thus, further liberating the Palestinian economy from its dependence on imports and laying the foundations for creating a strong independent Palestinian economy."
Source: Official Palestinian news agency-WAFA
The License Area extends over 432 Km2 from north of the city of Qalqilya to the west of Ramallah as shown in the attached map.
The tender documents were prepared under the supervision of a special Ministerial Committee headed by Mustafa and with the aid of international expert firms such as Exploration Reservoir Consultants Ltd. "ERCL", who specializes in consultancy for oil exploration, and the international law firm Ashurst, one of the world's leading firms in oil and gas law.
Initial studies have indicated that the license area may hold oil reserves ranging between 30 million and 186 million barrels.
The tender is available for public bidding, and will be open to bids for a period ending June 30th 2014, after which all the bids will be evaluated by the Ministerial Committee with the aid of a technical committee that will be formed for that purpose, and with the assistance of the international consultants who helped in preparing for the tender. Bids are to be submitted to the ministerial committee, whose address –as well as more detailed information regarding the project and application procedures- could be found at the project's website: www.palexploration.ps
The project as a whole is expected to generate proceeds exceeding one billion USD to the Palestinian Government over the life of the field, including cash inflows in the form of taxes, royalties and other bonuses and payments specified in the model contract for the project.
The Palestine Investment Fund ("PIF"), a state-owned sovereign development fund, will participate in the project through entering with the selected bidder into a joint venture (JV) in which the PIF will have an ownership stake subject to bidding (with a minimum value of 25%). The PIF will participate in the JV by providing its share of the JV's capital. Consequently, the PIF will be part of the consortium in charge of developing the project, as is the industry norm for state investment arms in international oil projects.
"The existence of oil in Palestine is a highly promising opportunity for the Palestinian economy" Mustafa said. He further emphasized the potential for a big shift in the Palestinian economy's trajectory as a result of such a project, which is considered the first of its kind in the country.
"Having local oil supply will alleviate some of the costs borne by the Palestinian economy on oil imports" Mustafa added.
Moreover, Mustafa stressed the fact that "a project of this size and nature will enhance Palestinian utilization of local natural resources, and will be a stepping stone to a multitude of other projects concerning developing available natural resources including those in Al-Aghwar Region, in the Dead Sea, as well as offshore Gaza, thus, further liberating the Palestinian economy from its dependence on imports and laying the foundations for creating a strong independent Palestinian economy."
Source: Official Palestinian news agency-WAFA
18 mar 2014
The signing ceremony was held in the Representative Office of Japan to the PA in Ramallah for the project of "Rehabilitation of Water Network in Jericho", on Monday 17th March.
The Representative Office of Japan to the PA said in a press release that the contract was signed by Junya Matsuura, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and the Representative of Japan to the PA and Mohammad Jalayta, Mayor of Jericho Municipality. This project is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
A grant of USD 119,432 was extended for Jericho Municipality to rehabilitate 3,200 meters of old and damaged pipelines to new galvanized steel pipes, benefiting 180 households (about 1200 people). This project will provide those residents with adequate and clean water supply as they suffered a lot from the lack of water due to the leakage which reached 40%.
Matsuura in his speech emphasized Japan's firm commitment of 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 Representative Office of Japan to the PA said in a press release that the contract was signed by Junya Matsuura, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and the Representative of Japan to the PA and Mohammad Jalayta, Mayor of Jericho Municipality. This project is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
A grant of USD 119,432 was extended for Jericho Municipality to rehabilitate 3,200 meters of old and damaged pipelines to new galvanized steel pipes, benefiting 180 households (about 1200 people). This project will provide those residents with adequate and clean water supply as they suffered a lot from the lack of water due to the leakage which reached 40%.
Matsuura in his speech emphasized Japan's firm commitment of 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.
17 mar 2014
Gaza's sole power station resumed generating electricity on Monday after Israel allowed fuel deliveries into the besieged coastal enclave.
Jamal Dardasawi, a public information officer for the power plant, told Ma'an that the company would resume the former distribution system to households of eight hours with electricity and eight hours without.
A spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry unit responsible for crossings into Gaza, confirmed that 100,000 liters of fuel were delivered on Sunday via the Kerem Shalom crossing for the power station.
Around 500,000 liters of fuel was expected on Sunday but delays to the delivery meant the power plant could not resume full operations.
A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Problems in transferring funds between the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and the Hamas government in Gaza are to blame" for the delay.
The power plant, which supplies some 30 percent of Gaza's electricity needs, fell silent for 50 days in the latter part of 2013 because of lack of fuel but resumed operations in late December.
Israel routinely closes the crossing in response to rocket fire or other violence in and around Gaza.
The fuel is bought from Israel by the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority which also facilitates the delivery because Hamas does not recognize Israel and do not have any direct dealings with its officials.
Jamal Dardasawi, a public information officer for the power plant, told Ma'an that the company would resume the former distribution system to households of eight hours with electricity and eight hours without.
A spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry unit responsible for crossings into Gaza, confirmed that 100,000 liters of fuel were delivered on Sunday via the Kerem Shalom crossing for the power station.
Around 500,000 liters of fuel was expected on Sunday but delays to the delivery meant the power plant could not resume full operations.
A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Problems in transferring funds between the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and the Hamas government in Gaza are to blame" for the delay.
The power plant, which supplies some 30 percent of Gaza's electricity needs, fell silent for 50 days in the latter part of 2013 because of lack of fuel but resumed operations in late December.
Israel routinely closes the crossing in response to rocket fire or other violence in and around Gaza.
The fuel is bought from Israel by the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority which also facilitates the delivery because Hamas does not recognize Israel and do not have any direct dealings with its officials.
16 mar 2014
Minister of Health in Gaza Mofeid Almakhallalaty
Minister of Health in Gaza Mofeid Almakhallalaty said on Sunday in a press conference, “only 30% of the total amount of the ministry’s medical storage remains in the stores due to the continued closure of the Rafah crossing .”
Almakhallalaty said In a press conference in the Ministry of Information headquarters in Gaza city, “80% of MOH construction projects are halted as a result of the tightened Israeli siege, the lack of building materials and other necessary related constuction materials.
Minister of Health in Gaza Mofeid Almakhallalaty said on Sunday in a press conference, “only 30% of the total amount of the ministry’s medical storage remains in the stores due to the continued closure of the Rafah crossing .”
Almakhallalaty said In a press conference in the Ministry of Information headquarters in Gaza city, “80% of MOH construction projects are halted as a result of the tightened Israeli siege, the lack of building materials and other necessary related constuction materials.
Gaza's sole power station will not resume operations until Monday, despite Israel reopening a crossing to fuel deliveries, the deputy chief of the Gaza energy authority said on Sunday.
Officials had said Israel would allow the resumption of diesel deliveries into Gaza on Sunday, a day after the Palestinian territory's power plant stopped working because of a lack of fuel.
"The central power station will resume operations at 06:00 a.m." on Monday, Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil told AFP.
"We were expecting the delivery today (Sunday) of 500,000 liters of fuel, but the delivery has been delayed, and only 100,000 liters have been delivered," he said.
"We should receive 500,000 liters tomorrow."
A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Problems in transferring funds between the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and the Hamas government in Gaza are to blame" for the delay.
A spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry unit responsible for crossings into Gaza, confirmed that 100,000 liters of fuel were delivered on Sunday via the Kerem Shalom crossing for the power station.
COGAT had earlier confirmed that the fuel deliveries were to resume on Sunday.
On Thursday, the defense ministry shut down the Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza after militants there fired scores of rockets over the border, although no one was injured.
Israel hit back with airstrikes, which also caused no injuries, and officials ordered the closure of the terminal, halting all deliveries.
"Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon ... instructed to open the Kerem Shalom crossing for the transition of gas into the Gaza Strip," COGAT said earlier on Sunday.
"The amount coordinated for today ... is 500,000 liters of diesel and gasoline for the private sector, 160,000 tonnes of cooking gas, and 200,000 liters of diesel for the operation of the power plant in Gaza," it said.
The power plant, which supplies some 30 percent of Gaza's electricity needs, fell silent for 50 days in the latter part of 2013 because of lack of fuel but resumed operations in late December.
Israel routinely closes the crossing in response to rocket fire or other violence in and around Gaza.
The fuel is bought from Israel by the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority which also facilitates the delivery because Hamas does not recognize Israel and do not have any direct dealings with its officials.
Officials had said Israel would allow the resumption of diesel deliveries into Gaza on Sunday, a day after the Palestinian territory's power plant stopped working because of a lack of fuel.
"The central power station will resume operations at 06:00 a.m." on Monday, Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil told AFP.
"We were expecting the delivery today (Sunday) of 500,000 liters of fuel, but the delivery has been delayed, and only 100,000 liters have been delivered," he said.
"We should receive 500,000 liters tomorrow."
A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Problems in transferring funds between the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and the Hamas government in Gaza are to blame" for the delay.
A spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry unit responsible for crossings into Gaza, confirmed that 100,000 liters of fuel were delivered on Sunday via the Kerem Shalom crossing for the power station.
COGAT had earlier confirmed that the fuel deliveries were to resume on Sunday.
On Thursday, the defense ministry shut down the Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza after militants there fired scores of rockets over the border, although no one was injured.
Israel hit back with airstrikes, which also caused no injuries, and officials ordered the closure of the terminal, halting all deliveries.
"Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon ... instructed to open the Kerem Shalom crossing for the transition of gas into the Gaza Strip," COGAT said earlier on Sunday.
"The amount coordinated for today ... is 500,000 liters of diesel and gasoline for the private sector, 160,000 tonnes of cooking gas, and 200,000 liters of diesel for the operation of the power plant in Gaza," it said.
The power plant, which supplies some 30 percent of Gaza's electricity needs, fell silent for 50 days in the latter part of 2013 because of lack of fuel but resumed operations in late December.
Israel routinely closes the crossing in response to rocket fire or other violence in and around Gaza.
The fuel is bought from Israel by the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority which also facilitates the delivery because Hamas does not recognize Israel and do not have any direct dealings with its officials.
The only power plant in the siege enclave
Israeli occupation authorities are supposed Sunday morning to let Limited amounts of fuel to enter Gaza in order to run the only power plant in the siege enclave.
Head of the Coordination Committee for entry of goods in the Gaza Strip, Raed Fattouh, said that limited amounts of industrial diesel, petrol, diesel and cooking gas will enter Gaza via Karem Abu Salem crossing.
For his part, deputy director of the energy authority, Fathi Sheikh Khalil, said the entry of fuel to the power plant today will directly return the 8-hour program of electricity distribution.
The power plant has been shut down since Saturday due to a lack of fuel caused by (Israel's) closureof Karem Abu Salem crossing last Wednesday.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation since 2006. The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
Fuel enters Gaza as Kerem Shalom crossing re-opened
Deliveries of fuel to the Gaza Strip resumed on Sunday morning as Israeli authorities allowed the Kerem Shalom (Kerem Abu Salem) crossing to re-open, Palestinian crossing officials said.
The decision comes only a day after the besieged coastal enclave's sole power plant was forced to shut down after Israel closed the border crossing, cutting off its supplies of fuel and further restricting the Gaza Strip's already limited power supply.
General director of the border crossing Nazmi Muhanna told Ma'an that Israeli authorities had informed him on Saturday evening that they had decided to resume shipments of fuel to the power plant on Sunday morning.
Israeli officials at the southern Gaza Strip crossing refused to allow any other commodities to enter, he added.
The Gaza power plant, which was already severely low on fuel, announced on Saturday that it would cut the electricity supply to the Strip's 1.7 million residents from twelve hours a day to six until fuel run out.
Israeli authorities closed the Kerem Shalom crossing on Thursday due to the outbreak of fighting between militant groups and Israeli forces, which involved rocket fire into Israel as well as air strikes on Gaza before a ceasefire was re-activated.
Lack of diesel fuel is a result of the tightening of a 7-year-long blockade imposed on the territory by Israel with Egyptian support.
Until July of this year, tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt provided a vital lifeline for the territory amidst the otherwise crippling Israeli blockade. The blockade has been in place since 2006, and it has limited imports and exports and led to a major economic decline and wide-reaching humanitarian crisis.
In the last year, however, the situation had greatly improved, as the tunnels to Egypt witnessed a brisk trade following the Egyptian Revolution. Since the coup against Egyptian president Morsi in July, however, Egypt has strictly enforced the blockade and targeted the tunnels.
Gaza Strip energy officials blame Egypt for destroying these tunnels while maintaining the larger economic blockade, along with Israel.
Israeli occupation authorities are supposed Sunday morning to let Limited amounts of fuel to enter Gaza in order to run the only power plant in the siege enclave.
Head of the Coordination Committee for entry of goods in the Gaza Strip, Raed Fattouh, said that limited amounts of industrial diesel, petrol, diesel and cooking gas will enter Gaza via Karem Abu Salem crossing.
For his part, deputy director of the energy authority, Fathi Sheikh Khalil, said the entry of fuel to the power plant today will directly return the 8-hour program of electricity distribution.
The power plant has been shut down since Saturday due to a lack of fuel caused by (Israel's) closureof Karem Abu Salem crossing last Wednesday.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation since 2006. The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
Fuel enters Gaza as Kerem Shalom crossing re-opened
Deliveries of fuel to the Gaza Strip resumed on Sunday morning as Israeli authorities allowed the Kerem Shalom (Kerem Abu Salem) crossing to re-open, Palestinian crossing officials said.
The decision comes only a day after the besieged coastal enclave's sole power plant was forced to shut down after Israel closed the border crossing, cutting off its supplies of fuel and further restricting the Gaza Strip's already limited power supply.
General director of the border crossing Nazmi Muhanna told Ma'an that Israeli authorities had informed him on Saturday evening that they had decided to resume shipments of fuel to the power plant on Sunday morning.
Israeli officials at the southern Gaza Strip crossing refused to allow any other commodities to enter, he added.
The Gaza power plant, which was already severely low on fuel, announced on Saturday that it would cut the electricity supply to the Strip's 1.7 million residents from twelve hours a day to six until fuel run out.
Israeli authorities closed the Kerem Shalom crossing on Thursday due to the outbreak of fighting between militant groups and Israeli forces, which involved rocket fire into Israel as well as air strikes on Gaza before a ceasefire was re-activated.
Lack of diesel fuel is a result of the tightening of a 7-year-long blockade imposed on the territory by Israel with Egyptian support.
Until July of this year, tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt provided a vital lifeline for the territory amidst the otherwise crippling Israeli blockade. The blockade has been in place since 2006, and it has limited imports and exports and led to a major economic decline and wide-reaching humanitarian crisis.
In the last year, however, the situation had greatly improved, as the tunnels to Egypt witnessed a brisk trade following the Egyptian Revolution. Since the coup against Egyptian president Morsi in July, however, Egypt has strictly enforced the blockade and targeted the tunnels.
Gaza Strip energy officials blame Egypt for destroying these tunnels while maintaining the larger economic blockade, along with Israel.
15 mar 2014
Quartet Representative Tony Blair met Friday with a high-level UK business delegation in Jerusalem to discuss the latest plans to kick-start Palestinian economic growth. The discussion followed a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, in Jerusalem, and forms part of the ongoing work to catalyze private sector-led growth in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, as part of the Initiative for the Palestinian Economy (IPE).
Blair told them that the IPE is “a very ambitious plan for changing the Palestinian economy.”
Meeting with the delegation at a crucial time in the negotiations for a framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, he added that “it is important to put the economics in the context of how the politics and economics are supposed to work together. There is never any substitute for the political process. Economics cannot take the place of politics. On a deeper level, unless the political process moves forward, the economics tends to bound up with the political difficulties.”
The IPE is the result of intensive evaluation by a team of policy advisers, economic analysts and international domain experts under the leadership of Blair, and in support of renewed Palestinian-Israeli political negotiations.
The Quartet Representative praised the resilience of the Palestinian business community, saying that despite all the challenges over the years, remarkable things have already been achieved.
He said that the Palestinian economy had a number of advantages, including the fact that the Palestinian business community offers great opportunities for partnership, a stock exchange that does well, and a banking system in relatively good shape.
He also pointed out that the Palestinian government wants to encourage investment, and that the people are eager to make it work. Mr. Blair added that the private sector is at the heart of the IPE, and those who have come and invested in the Palestinian economy have done well.
Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Livingston, led the business delegation, which included representatives from GlaxoSmithKline, the London Stock Exchange, ASOS, TalkTalk Group, KiWi Power and others.
Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister, Mohammed Mustafa, also addressed the meeting, laying out some of the constraints faced by the Palestinians, as well as highlighting the unrealized potential of the Palestinian economy.
“We need to, as Palestinians, do our best to leverage it and develop it further, so we can create not only a strong, independent state, but also economic independence,” he said, and went on to stress the importance of Israel taking vital measures to enable the Palestinian economy.
Dr Mustafa added that: “the Palestinian government sees the future Palestinian state as an important component not just of the regional economy, but also of the global economy.”
He said that the Palestinian Authority knows that the way forward must be through private sector-led growth. The Palestinians have worked very hard to make the best of the resources they have, he said, and through “perseverance, resilience and determination” they will ensure that the economy goes from strength to strength.
The Jerusalem-based Office of the Quartet Representative (OQR) is spearheading the initiative, which is designed to bring about transformative change and substantial growth in the Palestinian economy, as well as creating tens of thousands of jobs. The plan rests on three key components: the private sector, international financial institutions and “political enablers” that will remove restrictions and grant the Palestinian Authority wider access to resources and allow it more control over its affairs, allowing the Palestinian side to develop its capacity to make the economic plan a reality.
At Thursday’s meeting, policy advisors from the OQR set out the strategy for three of the eight sectors included in the IPE: Construction, ICT and light manufacturing. Other sectors included in the initiative are: agriculture, tourism, building materials, energy and water.
The meeting followed a major conference on the Initiative for the Palestinian Economy, held in Prague on the weekend. The conference brought together representatives from some 30 international organizations as well as Palestinian business people, and laid out potential projects and opportunities for investors in the Palestinian territories.
Blair told them that the IPE is “a very ambitious plan for changing the Palestinian economy.”
Meeting with the delegation at a crucial time in the negotiations for a framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, he added that “it is important to put the economics in the context of how the politics and economics are supposed to work together. There is never any substitute for the political process. Economics cannot take the place of politics. On a deeper level, unless the political process moves forward, the economics tends to bound up with the political difficulties.”
The IPE is the result of intensive evaluation by a team of policy advisers, economic analysts and international domain experts under the leadership of Blair, and in support of renewed Palestinian-Israeli political negotiations.
The Quartet Representative praised the resilience of the Palestinian business community, saying that despite all the challenges over the years, remarkable things have already been achieved.
He said that the Palestinian economy had a number of advantages, including the fact that the Palestinian business community offers great opportunities for partnership, a stock exchange that does well, and a banking system in relatively good shape.
He also pointed out that the Palestinian government wants to encourage investment, and that the people are eager to make it work. Mr. Blair added that the private sector is at the heart of the IPE, and those who have come and invested in the Palestinian economy have done well.
Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Livingston, led the business delegation, which included representatives from GlaxoSmithKline, the London Stock Exchange, ASOS, TalkTalk Group, KiWi Power and others.
Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister, Mohammed Mustafa, also addressed the meeting, laying out some of the constraints faced by the Palestinians, as well as highlighting the unrealized potential of the Palestinian economy.
“We need to, as Palestinians, do our best to leverage it and develop it further, so we can create not only a strong, independent state, but also economic independence,” he said, and went on to stress the importance of Israel taking vital measures to enable the Palestinian economy.
Dr Mustafa added that: “the Palestinian government sees the future Palestinian state as an important component not just of the regional economy, but also of the global economy.”
He said that the Palestinian Authority knows that the way forward must be through private sector-led growth. The Palestinians have worked very hard to make the best of the resources they have, he said, and through “perseverance, resilience and determination” they will ensure that the economy goes from strength to strength.
The Jerusalem-based Office of the Quartet Representative (OQR) is spearheading the initiative, which is designed to bring about transformative change and substantial growth in the Palestinian economy, as well as creating tens of thousands of jobs. The plan rests on three key components: the private sector, international financial institutions and “political enablers” that will remove restrictions and grant the Palestinian Authority wider access to resources and allow it more control over its affairs, allowing the Palestinian side to develop its capacity to make the economic plan a reality.
At Thursday’s meeting, policy advisors from the OQR set out the strategy for three of the eight sectors included in the IPE: Construction, ICT and light manufacturing. Other sectors included in the initiative are: agriculture, tourism, building materials, energy and water.
The meeting followed a major conference on the Initiative for the Palestinian Economy, held in Prague on the weekend. The conference brought together representatives from some 30 international organizations as well as Palestinian business people, and laid out potential projects and opportunities for investors in the Palestinian territories.
The Gaza Strip's only power plant shut down Saturday due to a lack of fuel from Israel, which closed a goods crossing after militant rocket attacks, the energy authority said.
"The plant has completely ceased to function due to a lack of fuel caused by (Israel's) closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing," said Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil, deputy director of the energy authority in the Palestinian territory ruled by the Islamist movement Hamas.
On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon ordered the closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza and the Erez pedestrian crossing "until further security assessments."
In response, Khalil said, the energy authority cut the plant's operation from only 12 hours a day to six until the fuel ran out.
Khalil told Ma'an Sunday -- before the recent flare-up between Gaza militants and the Israeli army -- that the plant would be shutting down within "four or five days" because fuel donated by Qatar had run out.
But on Wednesday, Qatar agreed to continue funding fuel for three more months, Gaza's energy authority said, according to Reuters.
The power plant, which supplies some 30 percent of Gaza's electricity needs, has been forced to shut down several times, most recently in December.
Qatar donated $10 million to Hamas authorities in Gaza for fuel in the wake of the humanitarian crisis caused by severe weather in the region in December.
Even before winter storm Alexa, Gaza had experienced extreme fuel shortages that cut off access to basic necessities for Gaza residents since early November.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006. Although enforcement from the Egyptian side eased following the 2011 revolution, since the July ouster of democratically-elected president Mohamed Morsi military authorities have tightened control.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
"The plant has completely ceased to function due to a lack of fuel caused by (Israel's) closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing," said Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil, deputy director of the energy authority in the Palestinian territory ruled by the Islamist movement Hamas.
On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon ordered the closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza and the Erez pedestrian crossing "until further security assessments."
In response, Khalil said, the energy authority cut the plant's operation from only 12 hours a day to six until the fuel ran out.
Khalil told Ma'an Sunday -- before the recent flare-up between Gaza militants and the Israeli army -- that the plant would be shutting down within "four or five days" because fuel donated by Qatar had run out.
But on Wednesday, Qatar agreed to continue funding fuel for three more months, Gaza's energy authority said, according to Reuters.
The power plant, which supplies some 30 percent of Gaza's electricity needs, has been forced to shut down several times, most recently in December.
Qatar donated $10 million to Hamas authorities in Gaza for fuel in the wake of the humanitarian crisis caused by severe weather in the region in December.
Even before winter storm Alexa, Gaza had experienced extreme fuel shortages that cut off access to basic necessities for Gaza residents since early November.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006. Although enforcement from the Egyptian side eased following the 2011 revolution, since the July ouster of democratically-elected president Mohamed Morsi military authorities have tightened control.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
