10 apr 2014
Minister of Local Government Mohammed al- Farra said that the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007 disrupted 21 projects in the fields of water and sanitation. The projects were negatively affected due to the closure of the crossings with Gaza and the ban on entry of construction materials which are necessary to fulfill several halted projects, al-Farra clarified Thursday.
He pointed out that the costs of the stalled water projects reached about $15m. The most important ones are the desalination of sea water project in Dair al- Balah, south of the Gaza Strip cost $12m, construction of water tank an a pumping station project in Deir al- Balah cost $1m.
The Lack of raw materials stopped completing the second phase of rainwater collection project in al- Jenina neighborhood in Rafah cost $271.1m, Al-Farra added, pointing out that several projects were delayed due to the closure of the crossings, especially the projects of establishing water wells in al- Qarrara , Bait-Lahia, and al-Salqa valley.
Total costs of the projects which are being carried out in wastewater field caused by the lack of raw materials exceeded $4m, al-Farra said.
Al-Alfarra hoped international community and organizations to pressure on the Israeli occupation in order to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of necessary materials to the Gaza strip to continue those projects. He considered that Israeli occupation is responsible for the deteriorating situation in the strip.
He pointed out that the costs of the stalled water projects reached about $15m. The most important ones are the desalination of sea water project in Dair al- Balah, south of the Gaza Strip cost $12m, construction of water tank an a pumping station project in Deir al- Balah cost $1m.
The Lack of raw materials stopped completing the second phase of rainwater collection project in al- Jenina neighborhood in Rafah cost $271.1m, Al-Farra added, pointing out that several projects were delayed due to the closure of the crossings, especially the projects of establishing water wells in al- Qarrara , Bait-Lahia, and al-Salqa valley.
Total costs of the projects which are being carried out in wastewater field caused by the lack of raw materials exceeded $4m, al-Farra said.
Al-Alfarra hoped international community and organizations to pressure on the Israeli occupation in order to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of necessary materials to the Gaza strip to continue those projects. He considered that Israeli occupation is responsible for the deteriorating situation in the strip.
Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) Governor, Dr. Jihad Al-Wazir, declared in a press release Thursday, that the decision to issue bonds, approved by the Palestinian Cabinet in its last meeting, is a major achievement of the government and the PMA. For the first time since 1947, the bonds will bear the name of the State of Palestine.
Al-Wazir stated that, in the first phase, three-year bonds worth $200 million will be issued solely to banks. The bond issue will stimulate the interbank market, thereby enhancing financial stability as well as the steadiness and stability of the interbank payment System (BURAQ). It will also foster better government management of the public debt.
Al-Wazir added that the decision has been taken in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and in agreement with the banks, since it will restructure and securitize the outstanding sovereign debt to local banks. Al-Wazir emphasized that the bond issue will not increase government indebtedness or expose the government or the banking system to any additional risks, which is indicative of continuous development of the Palestinian government financial management. In the future, he added, the bond issue will act as a development tool of monetary policy, therefore promoting financial stability in Palestine.
It is noteworthy to mention that the PMA had established the Open Market Operations Division with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund in preparation for bonds issue.
Al-Wazir stated that, in the first phase, three-year bonds worth $200 million will be issued solely to banks. The bond issue will stimulate the interbank market, thereby enhancing financial stability as well as the steadiness and stability of the interbank payment System (BURAQ). It will also foster better government management of the public debt.
Al-Wazir added that the decision has been taken in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and in agreement with the banks, since it will restructure and securitize the outstanding sovereign debt to local banks. Al-Wazir emphasized that the bond issue will not increase government indebtedness or expose the government or the banking system to any additional risks, which is indicative of continuous development of the Palestinian government financial management. In the future, he added, the bond issue will act as a development tool of monetary policy, therefore promoting financial stability in Palestine.
It is noteworthy to mention that the PMA had established the Open Market Operations Division with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund in preparation for bonds issue.
Land Research Center set about implementing the reclamation project for 300 dunums of uncultivated agricultural lands in Beit Hasan village in Nablus as part of "Land and Water Resource Management for Agricultural Development in the West Bank" program that is funded by Netherlands Representative Office (NRO) and administrated by Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UWAC) in partnership with Land Research Centre (LRC), Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG), the Economic and Social Development Center of Palestine (ESDC), and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).
The LRC supervisor of the project, Ruslan Shanabla, pointed out that LRC formed a local committee for the project that comprises organizations from Beit Hasan like the village council, the Agricultural Society and the Agricultural Committee of the village. Shanabla also confirmed that the comprehensive land reclamation project is distinguished by its approach that calls for collective work in carrying out activities. The latter are integral; LRC is going to build a 5km agricultural road that would facilitate the farmers' access to their lands and serve hundreds of dunums while PHG will extend water pipelines to irrigate the reclaimed lands. The project will offer job opportunities to the local people of the village.
According to LRC, this step is considered the first towards full implementation of the integral development project carried out by the mentioned organizations. It will take three years in execution and reclaim 3000 dunums of unused agricultural lands. It will also build and rehabilitate cisterns and water pools shared publicly between farmers and activate cooperatives and agricultural committees. Moreover, the project will build and rehabilitate 250kms of agricultural roads and develop water resources, rainwater harvesting and infrastructure through the construction of collective wells and irrigation networks.
The LRC supervisor of the project, Ruslan Shanabla, pointed out that LRC formed a local committee for the project that comprises organizations from Beit Hasan like the village council, the Agricultural Society and the Agricultural Committee of the village. Shanabla also confirmed that the comprehensive land reclamation project is distinguished by its approach that calls for collective work in carrying out activities. The latter are integral; LRC is going to build a 5km agricultural road that would facilitate the farmers' access to their lands and serve hundreds of dunums while PHG will extend water pipelines to irrigate the reclaimed lands. The project will offer job opportunities to the local people of the village.
According to LRC, this step is considered the first towards full implementation of the integral development project carried out by the mentioned organizations. It will take three years in execution and reclaim 3000 dunums of unused agricultural lands. It will also build and rehabilitate cisterns and water pools shared publicly between farmers and activate cooperatives and agricultural committees. Moreover, the project will build and rehabilitate 250kms of agricultural roads and develop water resources, rainwater harvesting and infrastructure through the construction of collective wells and irrigation networks.
Ibrahim Soboh, 55, from the Nusairat refugee camp
A Gaza resident has built a high-tech plant from basic equipment to turn used plastic remains to its origin; fuel. It took Ibrahim Soboh, 55, from the Nusairat refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip, seven months to build and perfect the plant.
Israel's siege on the Gaza Strip lead to many essential goods running out, pushing the residents to Gaza to invent new machines with basic equipment to try to find alternatives.
Soboh refused to disclose the secret of his invention but said the idea came to his mind as he knows that plastic is made of fuel and plastic remains, which used to be exported to Egypt through tunnels, are accumulating in huge amounts. In his plant, Soboh melts plastic by heating it until it becomes vapour.
The vapour is condensed in the same machine and becomes fuel. According to Soboh, every 1.5 kilogrammes of ground plastic gives one litre of fuel. The new fuel is used to run electricity generators, cars and other machines which operate on oil.
The next stage for Soboh is to search for donors to set up a big plant to be able to reuse tonnes of plastic remains accumulated in large stores in the Strip. He believes this will solve two problems; it encourages plastic recycling and finds a way to help with the fuel crisis.
Source: MEMO
A Gaza resident has built a high-tech plant from basic equipment to turn used plastic remains to its origin; fuel. It took Ibrahim Soboh, 55, from the Nusairat refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip, seven months to build and perfect the plant.
Israel's siege on the Gaza Strip lead to many essential goods running out, pushing the residents to Gaza to invent new machines with basic equipment to try to find alternatives.
Soboh refused to disclose the secret of his invention but said the idea came to his mind as he knows that plastic is made of fuel and plastic remains, which used to be exported to Egypt through tunnels, are accumulating in huge amounts. In his plant, Soboh melts plastic by heating it until it becomes vapour.
The vapour is condensed in the same machine and becomes fuel. According to Soboh, every 1.5 kilogrammes of ground plastic gives one litre of fuel. The new fuel is used to run electricity generators, cars and other machines which operate on oil.
The next stage for Soboh is to search for donors to set up a big plant to be able to reuse tonnes of plastic remains accumulated in large stores in the Strip. He believes this will solve two problems; it encourages plastic recycling and finds a way to help with the fuel crisis.
Source: MEMO
9 apr 2014
Tahsin al-Saqqa, director of marketing department in the ministry of Agriculture in Gaza, denied what the West Australian paper reported about banning the exporting of Australian live cattle to Gaza under the pretext of " mistreating ". Al-Saqqa said to ALRAY Wednesday "the information that published on the west Australian newspaper about stopping exporting a ship with 10,000 at Fremantle because cattle mistreating in Gaza is not true".
AlSaqqa made clear that Gaza buys the Australian cattle from the Israeli occupation, explaining that a footage of Israeli company's worker released showing them while shocking the cattle with electricity in order to kill them.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Australia revealed that it had not approved consignments of cattle for Gaza since November when it began investigating allegations raised in the Israeli media.
Logistics Support System in Australia said ,"the release of nine cattle from the supply chain was "unacceptable" and it suspended exports to the Gaza facility" , andt abused cattle could be identified by their ear tags.
The allegations are serious and information obtained during the investigation is considered when assessing any application from any exporter to send livestock to Gaza," A Department of Agriculture spokesman said.
Recently, all exporters to Israel should react with additional conditions to ensure livestock are unloaded in accordance with international animal welfare standards.
AlSaqqa made clear that Gaza buys the Australian cattle from the Israeli occupation, explaining that a footage of Israeli company's worker released showing them while shocking the cattle with electricity in order to kill them.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Australia revealed that it had not approved consignments of cattle for Gaza since November when it began investigating allegations raised in the Israeli media.
Logistics Support System in Australia said ,"the release of nine cattle from the supply chain was "unacceptable" and it suspended exports to the Gaza facility" , andt abused cattle could be identified by their ear tags.
The allegations are serious and information obtained during the investigation is considered when assessing any application from any exporter to send livestock to Gaza," A Department of Agriculture spokesman said.
Recently, all exporters to Israel should react with additional conditions to ensure livestock are unloaded in accordance with international animal welfare standards.
Palestinian government said the number of solidarity delegations to Gaza has decreased by 95% since July 2013. Media Office of the cabinet said in a report that 218 solidarity delegations visited the besieged Gaza Strip during last year, most of which during January.
The number of solidarity delegations peaked last January at 55 composed of 1281 members, followed by February with 42 delegations composed of 1219 members.
The delegations arrived in Gaza during the last four months were only four with 38 supporters.
Palestinians in Gaza have been under an extreme economic Israeli blockade since 2007, exacerbated Egypt destroying most of the border tunnels, which Gazans used to compensate for the Israeli closure, smuggling fuel and building materials in the first place.
A recent UN report said that an estimated 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip suffer from food insecurity and they are in need for urgent food aids.
The outgoing head of the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees urged Israel and Egypt on Tuesday to lift their border restrictions on the Gaza Strip, Reuters news agency reported.
The number of solidarity delegations peaked last January at 55 composed of 1281 members, followed by February with 42 delegations composed of 1219 members.
The delegations arrived in Gaza during the last four months were only four with 38 supporters.
Palestinians in Gaza have been under an extreme economic Israeli blockade since 2007, exacerbated Egypt destroying most of the border tunnels, which Gazans used to compensate for the Israeli closure, smuggling fuel and building materials in the first place.
A recent UN report said that an estimated 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip suffer from food insecurity and they are in need for urgent food aids.
The outgoing head of the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees urged Israel and Egypt on Tuesday to lift their border restrictions on the Gaza Strip, Reuters news agency reported.
Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) issued new instructions aiming at regulating housing and real estate mortgage lending to fit borrowers' financial capabilities, which will contribute to decreasing the risks of mortgage portfolio loans. This entailed linking housing and real estate mortgage conditions with the borrower's rating in the credit scoring system.
The system depends on a set of elements, most important among which is the borrower's current and historical commitment to repay their credit installments on due dates. This means that the higher the borrower's credit scoring is, the greater his opportunities are to borrow more widely, for longer periods, and with reasonable interest rates.
These new instructions gave priority to borrowers with high credit scoring and allowed borrowers with low credit scoring greater chances to adjust their status by fulfilling their obligations. This enabled them to enjoy the privileges specified and granted by the new regulations.
Dr. Jihad Al Wazir, Governor of PMA, emphasized that these new instructions have been enacted to ensure granting loans to citizens who want to purchase apartments in line with their needs and financial capabilities. This orientation is considered fundamental for responsible lending and prudent credit risk management. The new instructions will prevent real estate assessors and lending institutions from making immature credit decisions, thus averting a real estate bubble in Palestine. The instructions will positively affect borrowers' credit conduct as banks' clients become familiar with the credit scoring system and get stimulated to maintain good scores. Also the instructions will allow other clients to improve their credit scores, thus enabling them to borrow more widely to own the appropriate apartment or real estate.
It is worth mentioning that linking the borrowers' financial capabilities to the credit scoring system based on the Dynamic (LTV) Ratio is a policy uniquely developed by the PMA among central banks of the Middle East and the world. The development of a Credit Scoring System by PMA has allowed it to adopt prudent supervisory and risk management policies for real estate portfolio loans in line with the best international standards and practices. These instructions have been issued after holding a series of consultative meetings with the banking system, which expressed its satisfaction with, and encouragement for, the PMA's new approach.
The system depends on a set of elements, most important among which is the borrower's current and historical commitment to repay their credit installments on due dates. This means that the higher the borrower's credit scoring is, the greater his opportunities are to borrow more widely, for longer periods, and with reasonable interest rates.
These new instructions gave priority to borrowers with high credit scoring and allowed borrowers with low credit scoring greater chances to adjust their status by fulfilling their obligations. This enabled them to enjoy the privileges specified and granted by the new regulations.
Dr. Jihad Al Wazir, Governor of PMA, emphasized that these new instructions have been enacted to ensure granting loans to citizens who want to purchase apartments in line with their needs and financial capabilities. This orientation is considered fundamental for responsible lending and prudent credit risk management. The new instructions will prevent real estate assessors and lending institutions from making immature credit decisions, thus averting a real estate bubble in Palestine. The instructions will positively affect borrowers' credit conduct as banks' clients become familiar with the credit scoring system and get stimulated to maintain good scores. Also the instructions will allow other clients to improve their credit scores, thus enabling them to borrow more widely to own the appropriate apartment or real estate.
It is worth mentioning that linking the borrowers' financial capabilities to the credit scoring system based on the Dynamic (LTV) Ratio is a policy uniquely developed by the PMA among central banks of the Middle East and the world. The development of a Credit Scoring System by PMA has allowed it to adopt prudent supervisory and risk management policies for real estate portfolio loans in line with the best international standards and practices. These instructions have been issued after holding a series of consultative meetings with the banking system, which expressed its satisfaction with, and encouragement for, the PMA's new approach.
A number of Israeli settlers from the Efrat settlement, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, flooded Palestinian farmlands in al-Khader town with sewage.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader, Ahmad Salah, stated that the settlers pumped sewage into eight dunams of Palestinian agricultural lands belonging to resident Mohammad Yacoub Da’doa’, the Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported.
The attacked lands are close to the Efrat settlement, built on illegally annexed Palestinian lands.
Salah added that this attack will prevent the family from plowing and planting their land, and will not be able to plant grape vines due to the significant degree of contamination.
“Da’doa’ family was preparing for the grape season. They suffered very serious losses,” Salah added. “Those lands cannot be planted any more; this attack was not the first, as the settlers carried out numerous similar attacks against Palestinian lands and orchards in the area.”
Also on Tuesday, soldiers invaded the al-Karkafa area in Bethlehem, and kidnapped Khalil Mousa Zawahra after violently breaking into his home and searching it.
Soldiers also invaded the al-Ehsan Medical Society in Bethlehem after smashing its doors and searching it, causing excessive property damage. They also confiscated computers and documents.
Fanatic settlers in different parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, including occupied Jerusalem are responsible for countless attacks against the Palestinians, their lands and property, in addition to numerous attacks against Islamic and Christian holy sites, and even graveyards.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader, Ahmad Salah, stated that the settlers pumped sewage into eight dunams of Palestinian agricultural lands belonging to resident Mohammad Yacoub Da’doa’, the Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported.
The attacked lands are close to the Efrat settlement, built on illegally annexed Palestinian lands.
Salah added that this attack will prevent the family from plowing and planting their land, and will not be able to plant grape vines due to the significant degree of contamination.
“Da’doa’ family was preparing for the grape season. They suffered very serious losses,” Salah added. “Those lands cannot be planted any more; this attack was not the first, as the settlers carried out numerous similar attacks against Palestinian lands and orchards in the area.”
Also on Tuesday, soldiers invaded the al-Karkafa area in Bethlehem, and kidnapped Khalil Mousa Zawahra after violently breaking into his home and searching it.
Soldiers also invaded the al-Ehsan Medical Society in Bethlehem after smashing its doors and searching it, causing excessive property damage. They also confiscated computers and documents.
Fanatic settlers in different parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, including occupied Jerusalem are responsible for countless attacks against the Palestinians, their lands and property, in addition to numerous attacks against Islamic and Christian holy sites, and even graveyards.
8 apr 2014
Gaza families who lost members in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Tuesday shut down the PLO's main office in Gaza City protesting unpaid allowances.
A spokesman of the Martyrs’ Families in the Gaza Strip group told Ma’an that angry families closed a PLO-affiliated office in charge of allowances and donations for families of Palestinians killed or injured in the course of the conflict.
Additionally, offices of Fatah-affiliated lawmakers as well as senior Fatah leader Zakariyya al-Agha were also shut down by the protesters. Some protesters attempted to break into the office of member of Fatah central committee Nabil Shaath.
“We have been asking for our rights in a civilized manner for 13 months, but nobody in the leadership has replied and now we became impatient,” Alaa al-Barawi, the spokesman, said.
He urged President Mahmoud Abbas, members of Fatah's central committee and members of the movement’s revolutionary council to work out a solution for the families who haven’t received their allowances for five years.
A spokesman of the Martyrs’ Families in the Gaza Strip group told Ma’an that angry families closed a PLO-affiliated office in charge of allowances and donations for families of Palestinians killed or injured in the course of the conflict.
Additionally, offices of Fatah-affiliated lawmakers as well as senior Fatah leader Zakariyya al-Agha were also shut down by the protesters. Some protesters attempted to break into the office of member of Fatah central committee Nabil Shaath.
“We have been asking for our rights in a civilized manner for 13 months, but nobody in the leadership has replied and now we became impatient,” Alaa al-Barawi, the spokesman, said.
He urged President Mahmoud Abbas, members of Fatah's central committee and members of the movement’s revolutionary council to work out a solution for the families who haven’t received their allowances for five years.
An estimated 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip suffer from food insecurity and they are in need for urgent food aids, according to the United Nation(UN). UN Humanitarian Coordinator James W Rawley said Monday during a press conference, “ the repercussions of the food insecurity in Gaza are very painful.” “The hard living conditions constitute a big challenge to our work here,” he added.
“The people in Gaza are facing big challenges and they need to live in peace and tranquility,” he said.
“The economic conditions in Gaza are deteriorating, therefore trade should be activated” Rawley pointed out, calling on the Egyptian authorities to find a commercial zone and allow the entry of goods and materials through Rafah border crossing.
He said the Israeli occupation’s closure of the crossings undermined the development processes in the strip, so he demanded Israel to allow the access of construction materials into Gaza for humanitarian projects.
Deputy Director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, Mr. Scott Anderson demonstrated the Gaza’s conditions saying the unemployment increased by 38%, about 800,000 Palestinian refugees are suffering food insecurity, and those who are in need of social safety and food aids have risen at an average of 44% to 57% over the last year.
Mr Andrson implied the deteriorated health condition in Gaza and the need to provide social safety and food security nets. He also pointed the spread of diseases due to targeting zoos and death of its animals.
He stressed the importance of supporting the unemployed people and the owners of the factories damaged due to the siege imposed by the Israeli occupation since 2007.
UNRWA exerts efforts to improve the economic situation in Gaza and support Gazans to live in dignity and peace, he said
He called on the international community to help alleviate the suffering of Palestinian people and support their steadfastness, stressing their right to have electricity, fresh water and desalination plants.
“The people in Gaza are facing big challenges and they need to live in peace and tranquility,” he said.
“The economic conditions in Gaza are deteriorating, therefore trade should be activated” Rawley pointed out, calling on the Egyptian authorities to find a commercial zone and allow the entry of goods and materials through Rafah border crossing.
He said the Israeli occupation’s closure of the crossings undermined the development processes in the strip, so he demanded Israel to allow the access of construction materials into Gaza for humanitarian projects.
Deputy Director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, Mr. Scott Anderson demonstrated the Gaza’s conditions saying the unemployment increased by 38%, about 800,000 Palestinian refugees are suffering food insecurity, and those who are in need of social safety and food aids have risen at an average of 44% to 57% over the last year.
Mr Andrson implied the deteriorated health condition in Gaza and the need to provide social safety and food security nets. He also pointed the spread of diseases due to targeting zoos and death of its animals.
He stressed the importance of supporting the unemployed people and the owners of the factories damaged due to the siege imposed by the Israeli occupation since 2007.
UNRWA exerts efforts to improve the economic situation in Gaza and support Gazans to live in dignity and peace, he said
He called on the international community to help alleviate the suffering of Palestinian people and support their steadfastness, stressing their right to have electricity, fresh water and desalination plants.
Israel has confiscated equipment belonging to mobile phone operator Wataniya Telecom
By Mohamed Khubaisa
Palestinian Communication Minister( in Ramallah) Safa Nasser has accused Israel of tightening the noose around the local communication sector in the besieged Gaza Strip.
"Israel has confiscated equipment belonging to mobile phone operator Wataniya Telecom," Nasser told Anadolu Agency on Monday.
She said that Israeli authorities had suspended an earlier decision to allow Palestinian firms to provide third-generation (3G) mobile telecommunications technology.
The latest restriction is part of a raft of Israel-imposed penalties against the Palestinian Authority (PA) following a recent decision by PA President Mahmoud Abbas to sign 15 applications for Palestinian membership in various U.N. agencies and conventions.
Abbas signed the applications last week in response to an Israeli refusal to release a fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners despite earlier pledges to do so.
According to Nasser, the new Israeli restrictions have already cost Palestinians some $200 million in losses.
She said that her ministry had asked the International Telecommunication Union to pressure Israel to reverse its restrictions on the Palestinian telecom sector.
Source: Anadolu Agency
By Mohamed Khubaisa
Palestinian Communication Minister( in Ramallah) Safa Nasser has accused Israel of tightening the noose around the local communication sector in the besieged Gaza Strip.
"Israel has confiscated equipment belonging to mobile phone operator Wataniya Telecom," Nasser told Anadolu Agency on Monday.
She said that Israeli authorities had suspended an earlier decision to allow Palestinian firms to provide third-generation (3G) mobile telecommunications technology.
The latest restriction is part of a raft of Israel-imposed penalties against the Palestinian Authority (PA) following a recent decision by PA President Mahmoud Abbas to sign 15 applications for Palestinian membership in various U.N. agencies and conventions.
Abbas signed the applications last week in response to an Israeli refusal to release a fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners despite earlier pledges to do so.
According to Nasser, the new Israeli restrictions have already cost Palestinians some $200 million in losses.
She said that her ministry had asked the International Telecommunication Union to pressure Israel to reverse its restrictions on the Palestinian telecom sector.
Source: Anadolu Agency
7 apr 2014
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Dynamic Hospitality for Tourism Services, one of the Palestinian pioneer tourism companies, organized a conference in Jericho last Friday that was attended by different representatives of travel agencies. The purpose was to launch new tourism services for the Palestinian market, brought to the country through business partnerships with international tourism companies.
Dynamic Hospitality for Tourism Services signed a contract with Royal Caribbean International and Lots of Hotels to provide and expand the cruise sector and other tourism services. Shakeeb al-Hussaini, General Director of the company, said that the inclusion of these global services in the Palestinian tourism sector comes amid efforts to develop the services provided to the Palestinian citizens, on the one hand, and the tourism services in Palestine, on the other hand. |
Al-Hussaini told PNN that this first meeting with representatives of travel and tourism agencies aimed at providing them with information about the new services. “The objective is to facilitate the development of their work and to pave a new path for the Palestinian tourism sector. The travel agencies are developing fast; we can see a lot of professionals now introducing new products that support the tourism sector in general.”
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Dozens of owners and representatives of tourist and travel agencies from various cities in the West Bank attended the conference in Jericho.
The event began with Al-Hussaini welcoming the audience and providing an explanation of the advantages of the tourism services provided by Royal Caribbean International and Lots of Hotels, and talked about the importance of the collaboration with these companies. Regarding the cruises, Al-Hussaini said during the conference that Royal Caribbean is one of the biggest international companies, which operates in 44 countries worldwide. He added that the company's cruise ships dock in 240 ports, and that it has the second largest fleet, with 41 cruise ships of various sizes and with services that fit all kinds of tastes and ages. |
The company is considered one of the most profitable touristic companies in the world, and its profits last year were estimated in seven billion dollars. The Royal Caribbean hosted thousands of tourists on board of its ships, which have the capacity to carry up to 6200 tourists and over 100 employees.
Al-Hussaini explained the different cruise options that will be available for Palestinians. The first one is the Azamara Cruises, which provide among others massage services, different restaurants and offer a wide range of activities. The Azamara cruises include upscale service and food, small ship coziness, and unusual itineraries
Another kind of Royal Caribbean cruise is the "Celebrity", which is a service provided primarily to married couples, and has aft-glass dining rooms, formal foyer areas, alternate dining venues, balcony and suite staterooms, large pools and lounging areas, signature bars and lounges, libraries, elegant spas and gyms, and relaxation areas.
The third service provided by the Royal Caribbean is for families and includes restaurants, entertainment services for children, rock-climbing walls, various activities and games.
Al-Hussaini pointed out that in all kinds of options there are exclusive services and areas for the VIPs.
According to Al-Hussaini, the company has in its handbooks and leaflets answers to all the questions, and that the company is seeking to provide information about visas, reservation services and other kinds of assistance to the tourists who are interested in the cruise.
With regards to the second International Company, Al-Hussaini said that Lots of Hotels has a system that ensures clients find the cheapest price in the Palestinian territories, adding that the booking percentages through this system that operates via the internet have reached up to 10-15 %. It also includes a program that facilitates obtaining work visas to clients, especially in countries like the Saudi Arabia.
The Lots of Hotel system includes contracts with more than fifteen thousand hotels, in addition to services such as Haj and Umrah pilgrimages, visits to the Vatican, as well as seasonal discounts on prices. Besides the hotel it is also possible to manage visa applications, renting cars or booking taxis.
At the end of the presentation, Al-Hussaini made a call to the travel agencies to adopt a long-term planning system as it will contribute to the development of their work. Planning the bookings a few months before planning the tours will give them the chance to work professionally, therefore improving their work and increasing their profit.
Husseini also said that his department will announce in the coming months a series of new tourism services to be provided to the Palestinian market, which will contribute to the development of the tourism sector and to catch up with global tourism trends.
Marwan Za'tara, manager of the Za'tara travel agency in Jerusalem, said that these new services will certainly add value to the Palestinian market and that developments like this one were always welcome. However, he showed his concern regarding potential problems in the promotion of cruises for Palestinians. He said that cruises usually travel to many different countries in Europe or other parts of the world, and that considering how difficult it is for Palestinians to get visas, especially those with West Bank or Jerusalem IDs, it will be challenging to attract large crowds.
The director of Royal Jordanian Airlines, who attended the meeting, said that this meeting is important because it contributes to the development of tourism as it raises the level of quality of the services provided by the travel agencies to Palestinian citizens.
He also noted that this will contribute to placing Palestine on the map of international tourism through the existence of Palestinian companies and tourist offices that are connected to these companies.
Al-Hussaini explained the different cruise options that will be available for Palestinians. The first one is the Azamara Cruises, which provide among others massage services, different restaurants and offer a wide range of activities. The Azamara cruises include upscale service and food, small ship coziness, and unusual itineraries
Another kind of Royal Caribbean cruise is the "Celebrity", which is a service provided primarily to married couples, and has aft-glass dining rooms, formal foyer areas, alternate dining venues, balcony and suite staterooms, large pools and lounging areas, signature bars and lounges, libraries, elegant spas and gyms, and relaxation areas.
The third service provided by the Royal Caribbean is for families and includes restaurants, entertainment services for children, rock-climbing walls, various activities and games.
Al-Hussaini pointed out that in all kinds of options there are exclusive services and areas for the VIPs.
According to Al-Hussaini, the company has in its handbooks and leaflets answers to all the questions, and that the company is seeking to provide information about visas, reservation services and other kinds of assistance to the tourists who are interested in the cruise.
With regards to the second International Company, Al-Hussaini said that Lots of Hotels has a system that ensures clients find the cheapest price in the Palestinian territories, adding that the booking percentages through this system that operates via the internet have reached up to 10-15 %. It also includes a program that facilitates obtaining work visas to clients, especially in countries like the Saudi Arabia.
The Lots of Hotel system includes contracts with more than fifteen thousand hotels, in addition to services such as Haj and Umrah pilgrimages, visits to the Vatican, as well as seasonal discounts on prices. Besides the hotel it is also possible to manage visa applications, renting cars or booking taxis.
At the end of the presentation, Al-Hussaini made a call to the travel agencies to adopt a long-term planning system as it will contribute to the development of their work. Planning the bookings a few months before planning the tours will give them the chance to work professionally, therefore improving their work and increasing their profit.
Husseini also said that his department will announce in the coming months a series of new tourism services to be provided to the Palestinian market, which will contribute to the development of the tourism sector and to catch up with global tourism trends.
Marwan Za'tara, manager of the Za'tara travel agency in Jerusalem, said that these new services will certainly add value to the Palestinian market and that developments like this one were always welcome. However, he showed his concern regarding potential problems in the promotion of cruises for Palestinians. He said that cruises usually travel to many different countries in Europe or other parts of the world, and that considering how difficult it is for Palestinians to get visas, especially those with West Bank or Jerusalem IDs, it will be challenging to attract large crowds.
The director of Royal Jordanian Airlines, who attended the meeting, said that this meeting is important because it contributes to the development of tourism as it raises the level of quality of the services provided by the travel agencies to Palestinian citizens.
He also noted that this will contribute to placing Palestine on the map of international tourism through the existence of Palestinian companies and tourist offices that are connected to these companies.
6 apr 2014
By PIC Team
The Almond tree is now barely breathing south of the Gaza Strip due to the bullets fired by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) from adjacent military barracks. Paradoxically enough, the tree’s last breath is taken away as its flowers are unable to blossom because of IOF uninterrupted shootings.
An unusual silence engulfs the area and a wind, carrying bad omens, hangs over the place, foretelling an awaited tragedy that is due to contaminate the military-controlled border fence.
The Almond tree is forced out of the border’s military sites due to the brutal uprootedness-processes so frequently executed by IOF on several lands during Al-Intifada. Other geo-economic factors were also decisive in dislodging the Almond tree from its native soils.
Persistent as the tree has always, literally and symbolically, been, it has never ceased to find a new home where it can set up its roots in other regions of Khan Younis, south of Gaza Strip, seeking out fertile soil and fresh water in its eternal quest for survival.
The overall area of green almonds has reached 735 dunums with a yearly production that has gone up to 642 tons.
Old Products
During lunch-break farmer Abdullah Suleiman, 58, said while sipping his Arabic coffee in a modest room crammed with agricultural equipment: “Abu Ajin has been historically famous for planting local Almond trees. The tree’s prominence stems from its quasi self-reliant nature occasionally nourished by rainwater. The Almond tree’s willingness to survive for decades is just amazing.”
Suleiman added as he wiped his sweating forehead: “The growing of almonds has declined due to several reasons most notably the occupation’s conscious and subconscious attempts to obliterate its existence, particularly near the borders, as if by doing so they seemed to concretize part of their de-historicization plans. The tree was the sole source of life to dozens of farmers. I myself had more than 40 dunums uprooted in 2004 by Israeli bulldozers which deracinated other fruitful almond trees in two other neighboring orchards. For native inhabitants the tree has not only been the sole source of life, but for many of us it represented life itself.
A Story of My Own
A friend gave me a lift via a motorcycle to Abu Glebiya orchard where silence, occasionally interspersed with bird whistles, overwhelmed the area. Hadj Abou Jribane whom we found lying on the grass under an almond tree drinking a cup of tea, voiced his sorrow as follows:
“We’ve been nurturing Almond trees for years now. It has never been a source of exhaustion to local farmers.” The old man added while cracking some dry almonds with a wooden stick as if he were letting out a suppressed anger: “These were the only local almonds in occupied Palestine until new American almonds, bigger in size but weaker in productivity rates, appeared in the aftermath of 67 years of occupation.”
The tree has been the farmer’s 40-year companion denoting an eternal love story that has been enthralling the man for years.
The Almond tree falls apart
As I headed toward the east, I met Haj Suleiman Samiri, 70, nicknamed the "home" for his astounding ability to tell of the city’s tales in minute details.
Haj Smiri who has just woken up from an afternoon nap told us, as he did many before us, that the Almond tree has been planted in the village for decades when it wasn't possible for Israeli occupation to reach our orchards. But now things have changed and Almond trees have either disappeared or, in the best of cases, replaced by other plants. Everybody knows what harm IOF has done to us.
Huge amounts of almonds used to be cultivated for local and external use. I myself had grown15 dunums of almond trees but in the aftermath of the Israeli occupation only one has remained! Today we can barely come across a single new Almond tree grown in the area.
PIC news reporter quoted Fathi Abu Shamala, head of Almonds Horticulture Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, as stating that such rainwater-dependent-trees are now threatened with extinction given the insufficient rainwater and lethal diseases contaminating the area along with the frequent brutal uprootedness procedures recurrently executed by the Israeli occupation forces.
Today most of the stories told by Almond tree farmers about the existential and historical value of the tree are characterized by mixed feelings of pride and regret, with the former designating the tree’s eternal quest for survival and the latter foreshadowing the tragedy of a tree that is due to perish as a result of the Israeli occupation’s practices.
The Almond tree is now barely breathing south of the Gaza Strip due to the bullets fired by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) from adjacent military barracks. Paradoxically enough, the tree’s last breath is taken away as its flowers are unable to blossom because of IOF uninterrupted shootings.
An unusual silence engulfs the area and a wind, carrying bad omens, hangs over the place, foretelling an awaited tragedy that is due to contaminate the military-controlled border fence.
The Almond tree is forced out of the border’s military sites due to the brutal uprootedness-processes so frequently executed by IOF on several lands during Al-Intifada. Other geo-economic factors were also decisive in dislodging the Almond tree from its native soils.
Persistent as the tree has always, literally and symbolically, been, it has never ceased to find a new home where it can set up its roots in other regions of Khan Younis, south of Gaza Strip, seeking out fertile soil and fresh water in its eternal quest for survival.
The overall area of green almonds has reached 735 dunums with a yearly production that has gone up to 642 tons.
Old Products
During lunch-break farmer Abdullah Suleiman, 58, said while sipping his Arabic coffee in a modest room crammed with agricultural equipment: “Abu Ajin has been historically famous for planting local Almond trees. The tree’s prominence stems from its quasi self-reliant nature occasionally nourished by rainwater. The Almond tree’s willingness to survive for decades is just amazing.”
Suleiman added as he wiped his sweating forehead: “The growing of almonds has declined due to several reasons most notably the occupation’s conscious and subconscious attempts to obliterate its existence, particularly near the borders, as if by doing so they seemed to concretize part of their de-historicization plans. The tree was the sole source of life to dozens of farmers. I myself had more than 40 dunums uprooted in 2004 by Israeli bulldozers which deracinated other fruitful almond trees in two other neighboring orchards. For native inhabitants the tree has not only been the sole source of life, but for many of us it represented life itself.
A Story of My Own
A friend gave me a lift via a motorcycle to Abu Glebiya orchard where silence, occasionally interspersed with bird whistles, overwhelmed the area. Hadj Abou Jribane whom we found lying on the grass under an almond tree drinking a cup of tea, voiced his sorrow as follows:
“We’ve been nurturing Almond trees for years now. It has never been a source of exhaustion to local farmers.” The old man added while cracking some dry almonds with a wooden stick as if he were letting out a suppressed anger: “These were the only local almonds in occupied Palestine until new American almonds, bigger in size but weaker in productivity rates, appeared in the aftermath of 67 years of occupation.”
The tree has been the farmer’s 40-year companion denoting an eternal love story that has been enthralling the man for years.
The Almond tree falls apart
As I headed toward the east, I met Haj Suleiman Samiri, 70, nicknamed the "home" for his astounding ability to tell of the city’s tales in minute details.
Haj Smiri who has just woken up from an afternoon nap told us, as he did many before us, that the Almond tree has been planted in the village for decades when it wasn't possible for Israeli occupation to reach our orchards. But now things have changed and Almond trees have either disappeared or, in the best of cases, replaced by other plants. Everybody knows what harm IOF has done to us.
Huge amounts of almonds used to be cultivated for local and external use. I myself had grown15 dunums of almond trees but in the aftermath of the Israeli occupation only one has remained! Today we can barely come across a single new Almond tree grown in the area.
PIC news reporter quoted Fathi Abu Shamala, head of Almonds Horticulture Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, as stating that such rainwater-dependent-trees are now threatened with extinction given the insufficient rainwater and lethal diseases contaminating the area along with the frequent brutal uprootedness procedures recurrently executed by the Israeli occupation forces.
Today most of the stories told by Almond tree farmers about the existential and historical value of the tree are characterized by mixed feelings of pride and regret, with the former designating the tree’s eternal quest for survival and the latter foreshadowing the tragedy of a tree that is due to perish as a result of the Israeli occupation’s practices.
Director-General of Planning and Policy at Ministry of Agriculture Nabil Abu Shammala
A Gaza official estimated the siege-incurred losses of the agricultural sector at $300 million per annum. Since the siege was imposed eight years ago, the annual exports have been worth up to $3.5 million, comparing to $40m before, Director General for Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture Nabil Abu Shammala said Sunday.
The agricultural production in Gaza, which totals annual 1.2 million tons making up $380m, has reduced the imports from Israel to $26 million, he added in a press conference at the Ministry of Information.
The productivity mainly lies with vegetableو fruit, and olive crops, he explained.
Abu Shammala called on all international and local organizations to mount pressure on the occupation to allow the Gaza exports of agricultural production, which would increase agricultural productivity and support economy.
A Gaza official estimated the siege-incurred losses of the agricultural sector at $300 million per annum. Since the siege was imposed eight years ago, the annual exports have been worth up to $3.5 million, comparing to $40m before, Director General for Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture Nabil Abu Shammala said Sunday.
The agricultural production in Gaza, which totals annual 1.2 million tons making up $380m, has reduced the imports from Israel to $26 million, he added in a press conference at the Ministry of Information.
The productivity mainly lies with vegetableو fruit, and olive crops, he explained.
Abu Shammala called on all international and local organizations to mount pressure on the occupation to allow the Gaza exports of agricultural production, which would increase agricultural productivity and support economy.
Palestinian truck drivers in the Jenin district went on strike for two hours on Sunday in protest against a recent Israeli decision to allow Israeli trucks to deliver goods directly into the West Bank, a labor union said.
Union member Kayid Awwad told Ma'an that more than 120 truck drivers went on strike for two hours at al-Jalameh crossing in the northern West Bank in protest against the Israeli move, which they say will introduce unfair competition.
"Our demand is clear. If Israel allows Israeli trucks into Palestinian territory, then Palestinian trucks must be allowed into Israeli territory," Awwad said.
The protest, he said, was a clear message to Palestinian officials urging them to investigate the dire conditions truck drivers will experience in the wake of the Israeli decision.
Awwad explained that Israel decided to allow Israeli trucks to deliver goods to the West Bank directly, meaning that Palestinian truck drivers will find themselves jobless.
Before the new decision, Israeli trucks used to unload their freight at a special terminal in al-Jalameh crossing, after which Palestinian trucks would carry the goods into the West Bank.
Although Israeli citizens can freely enter the vast majority of the West Bank, Palestinian citizens are largely barred entry into Israel without special permits.
As a result, Palestinians complain that they face major obstacles to economic development, as Israel enjoys near uninhibited access to the Palestinian market while Palestinians face widespread Israeli restrictions.
A World Bank report released in October, for example, said that Israel's control over Area C -- about 61 percent of the West Bank -- deprives the Palestinian economy of an estimated $3.4 billion a year, equivalent to some 35 percent of the Palestinian gross domestic product in 2011.
The report blamed the Israeli military's exclusive control over the territory for undermining the Palestinian economy and contributing to wide-ranging unemployment.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Union member Kayid Awwad told Ma'an that more than 120 truck drivers went on strike for two hours at al-Jalameh crossing in the northern West Bank in protest against the Israeli move, which they say will introduce unfair competition.
"Our demand is clear. If Israel allows Israeli trucks into Palestinian territory, then Palestinian trucks must be allowed into Israeli territory," Awwad said.
The protest, he said, was a clear message to Palestinian officials urging them to investigate the dire conditions truck drivers will experience in the wake of the Israeli decision.
Awwad explained that Israel decided to allow Israeli trucks to deliver goods to the West Bank directly, meaning that Palestinian truck drivers will find themselves jobless.
Before the new decision, Israeli trucks used to unload their freight at a special terminal in al-Jalameh crossing, after which Palestinian trucks would carry the goods into the West Bank.
Although Israeli citizens can freely enter the vast majority of the West Bank, Palestinian citizens are largely barred entry into Israel without special permits.
As a result, Palestinians complain that they face major obstacles to economic development, as Israel enjoys near uninhibited access to the Palestinian market while Palestinians face widespread Israeli restrictions.
A World Bank report released in October, for example, said that Israel's control over Area C -- about 61 percent of the West Bank -- deprives the Palestinian economy of an estimated $3.4 billion a year, equivalent to some 35 percent of the Palestinian gross domestic product in 2011.
The report blamed the Israeli military's exclusive control over the territory for undermining the Palestinian economy and contributing to wide-ranging unemployment.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
2 apr 2014
Some gas station owners have begun buying fuel directly from Israeli dealers instead of buying it through Palestinian Authority's General Petroleum Corporation, a union spokesman said Tuesday.
Suheil Jabir, spokesman for the union of West Bank gas station owners, told Ma'an that fuel bought directly from Israeli dealers is cheaper than fuel bought through official PA channels.
As a result, some gas stations owners have been buying fuel from Israeli dealers who smuggle fuel into the West Bank, Jabir said.
Smuggling fuel from Israel has a negative impact on the PA's revenue, he said, explaining that about 65 percent of the money from fuel sales goes to the PA treasury.
Jabir said smuggled fuel arrives either through border crossings or from Israeli gas stations in illegal settlements.
Suheil Jabir, spokesman for the union of West Bank gas station owners, told Ma'an that fuel bought directly from Israeli dealers is cheaper than fuel bought through official PA channels.
As a result, some gas stations owners have been buying fuel from Israeli dealers who smuggle fuel into the West Bank, Jabir said.
Smuggling fuel from Israel has a negative impact on the PA's revenue, he said, explaining that about 65 percent of the money from fuel sales goes to the PA treasury.
Jabir said smuggled fuel arrives either through border crossings or from Israeli gas stations in illegal settlements.
1 apr 2014
By Haitham Sabbah
Over 300 medical machines at hospitals were out of order, including the ONLY MRI machine at Gaza European Hospital. The average waiting time for some types of elective surgery at Gaza’s largest hospital (Shifa) is over a year.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – Occupied Palestinian Territory, has issued it March 2014 report on the “Humanitarian Impact of Gaza’s Electricity and Fuel Crisis.”
As you can imagine, the situation in besieged Gaza is disastrous.
Key Facts
The Gaza Strip is supplied with electricity from three sources: purchases from Israel (120 megawatts, MW) and from Egypt (28 MW), and production by the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) (currently 60 MW). This supply meets approximately 46% of the estimated demand.
Due to severe shortages of fuel, since July 2013, the GPP has been operating at approximately half of its capacity of 120 MW, triggering an average of rolling power outages of up to 12 hours per day. On several occasions, it has been forced to shut down completely, resulting in scheduled blackouts of up to 16 hours a day.
Due to the insufficient and irregular power supply:
More than 30% of households in Gaza are supplied with running water for 6-8 hours only once every four days.
Up to 90 million liters of partially treated sewage are discharged into the Mediterranean Sea every day.
By January 2014, over 300 medical machines at hospitals were out of order, including the only MRI machine at Gaza European Hospital, as of (WHO).
The average waiting time for some types of elective surgery at Gaza’s largest hospital (Shifa) is over a year (WHO).
Water desalination units have reduced their operation levels by approximately 40% since the beginning of 2014.
At least 140,000 dunums of land planted with fruits and vegetables are at risk of drought due to inability to use 85 percent of the agricultural wells operated with electricity.
Over 300 medical machines at hospitals were out of order, including the ONLY MRI machine at Gaza European Hospital. The average waiting time for some types of elective surgery at Gaza’s largest hospital (Shifa) is over a year.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – Occupied Palestinian Territory, has issued it March 2014 report on the “Humanitarian Impact of Gaza’s Electricity and Fuel Crisis.”
As you can imagine, the situation in besieged Gaza is disastrous.
Key Facts
The Gaza Strip is supplied with electricity from three sources: purchases from Israel (120 megawatts, MW) and from Egypt (28 MW), and production by the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) (currently 60 MW). This supply meets approximately 46% of the estimated demand.
Due to severe shortages of fuel, since July 2013, the GPP has been operating at approximately half of its capacity of 120 MW, triggering an average of rolling power outages of up to 12 hours per day. On several occasions, it has been forced to shut down completely, resulting in scheduled blackouts of up to 16 hours a day.
Due to the insufficient and irregular power supply:
More than 30% of households in Gaza are supplied with running water for 6-8 hours only once every four days.
Up to 90 million liters of partially treated sewage are discharged into the Mediterranean Sea every day.
By January 2014, over 300 medical machines at hospitals were out of order, including the only MRI machine at Gaza European Hospital, as of (WHO).
The average waiting time for some types of elective surgery at Gaza’s largest hospital (Shifa) is over a year (WHO).
Water desalination units have reduced their operation levels by approximately 40% since the beginning of 2014.
At least 140,000 dunums of land planted with fruits and vegetables are at risk of drought due to inability to use 85 percent of the agricultural wells operated with electricity.
- The chronic electricity deficit affecting Gaza over the past few years has disrupted the delivery of basic services and undermined already vulnerable livelihoods and living conditions. The situation has further deteriorated since June 2013, following the halt in the smuggling of Egyptian-subsidized fuel used to operate the GPP, via the tunnels.
- The generating capacity and reliability of the GPP has been significantly impaired over the past eight years by additional factors. These include the destruction of six transformers by an Israeli airstrike in 2006; the restrictions on the import of spare parts, equipment, and fuel in the context of Israel’s blockade; and the dispute between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the de-facto-authorities in Gaza over the funding of GPP operations. The resulting decline has been exacerbated by the poor state of the distribution network, which results in significant electricity losses.
- To cope with the long blackouts, service providers and private households have resorted to back-up generators, which are unreliable due to their dependence on scarce fuel and spare parts. Private mobile generators can be particularly unsafe, environmentally polluting, and are not affordable by the poorest.
- Medical services, including life-saving interventions, are at risk of collapse due to the exhaustion of the fuel reserves used to operate back-up generators. Constant fluctuations in power supply have resulted in the malfunctioning of sensitive medical equipment, including ultrasound, X-ray, laboratory machines, cardiac monitors, sterilizing machines and infants’ incubators. To prioritize emergency surgery, hospitals have had to postpone some elective surgery, which, even if not life-threatening, can have a range of negative ramifications on the affected patients.
- The insufficient supply of electricity and fuel to operate water pumps and wells has caused a further reduction in the availability of running water in most households. This has increased people’s reliance on private, uncontrolled water suppliers and lowered hygiene standards. Wastewater plants have also shortened treatment cycles, thus increasing the pollution level of partially treated sewage discharged into the sea. There is a constant risk of back-flow of sewage onto streets.
- The fuel shortages and related rise in fuel prices have further undermined agricultural livelihoods. Fishermen and farmers depend on fuel to run vehicles and fishing boats as well as other essential equipment for land irrigation and poultry farms. Compounded with insufficient rainfall, the fuel shortages are likely to push food prices, especially fresh vegetables, further up, thus increasing food insecurity.
- A number of long and medium-term options to address Gaza’s electricity deficit are currently under consideration, but are on hold due to political reasons. Those include operating the GPP with gas from the gas fields under the Gaza sea, or the purchase of an additional 100MW/day of electricity from Israel. In the short term, however, to mitigate the humanitarian impact of the current crisis, the relevant authorities need to ensure that GPP is supplied with enough fuel to operate at full capacity.
Israeli authorities opened the Kerem Shalom crossing with the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to allow a single truckload of wooden furniture to be exported to Ukraine, a Palestinian official said.
Raed Fattouh told Ma'an that 280 truckloads of humanitarian aid and commercial and agricultural goods were also allowed to enter Gaza.
He said eight truckloads of cement, 23 loads of concrete aggregates, and two loads of iron bars for construction would enter the Strip for UN-funded projects.
Additionally, fuel was to be delivered to Gaza's sole power plant. Domestic-use gas was also allowed to enter the besieged coastal enclave.
The Gaza Strip has been under an economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006.
The blockade was imposed following the victory of Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections and the subsequent 2007 clashes between Fatah and Hamas, which left Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of parts of the occupied West Bank.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
Raed Fattouh told Ma'an that 280 truckloads of humanitarian aid and commercial and agricultural goods were also allowed to enter Gaza.
He said eight truckloads of cement, 23 loads of concrete aggregates, and two loads of iron bars for construction would enter the Strip for UN-funded projects.
Additionally, fuel was to be delivered to Gaza's sole power plant. Domestic-use gas was also allowed to enter the besieged coastal enclave.
The Gaza Strip has been under an economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006.
The blockade was imposed following the victory of Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections and the subsequent 2007 clashes between Fatah and Hamas, which left Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of parts of the occupied West Bank.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
27 mar 2014
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) announced in a press release Thursday, the preliminary results of the Palestinian Balance of Payments – Fourth Quarter 2013.
The Balance of Payments (BOP) is an account measuring transactions between residents and non-residents in a given period. It is considered to be the peak of efforts in preparing systematic economic statistics that are necessary for observing economic performance in general and for deriving essential data used in compiling the Rest of the World Account as part of the Palestinian National Accounts. BoP consists of two main accounts, the Current Account and the Capital and Financial Account.
The main findings of the preliminary results of BoP for the fourth quarter of 2013 are including:
The incessant deficit of the Current Account amounted to USD 365.3 million (9.8 percent of the GDP at current prices for the 4th quarter of 2013) with an increase of 44.6% compared to the previous quarter. The deficit of Current Account was caused mainly by the deficit in the Trade Balance of goods which was USD 1,125.7 million (30.2% of the GDP at current prices) with a decrease of 4.2% compared to the previous quarter.
The deficit in Services Balance amounted to USD 139.1 million with an increase of 44.0% compared to previous quarter. This increase was caused by the increase of the imports of travel and government services.
The surplus in Income Balance (compensations of employees and investments income) amounted to USD 361.4 million with an increase of 6.0% compared to the previous quarter, this surplus was due to a surplus in Compensations of Employees working in Israel that reached USD 327.9 million. While, the received investments income amounted to USD 36.8 million was mainly caused by the interest received on the Palestinian deposits in banks abroad.
According to the Current Transfers in the fourth quarter of 2013, the surplus value amounted to USD 538.1 million with a decrease of 20.6% compared to the previous quarter. The donors' current transfers was 47.7% of total value of receipts from abroad.
The surplus value of Capital and Financial Account amounted to USD 479.5 million was mainly caused by the surplus in Financial Account (direct investment, portfolio investments, other investments and reserve assets) amounted to USD 392.5.
The changes on Reserve Assets flow (increased) amounted to USD 50.7 million at PMA. Which reflects the overall balance.
The Balance of Payments (BOP) is an account measuring transactions between residents and non-residents in a given period. It is considered to be the peak of efforts in preparing systematic economic statistics that are necessary for observing economic performance in general and for deriving essential data used in compiling the Rest of the World Account as part of the Palestinian National Accounts. BoP consists of two main accounts, the Current Account and the Capital and Financial Account.
The main findings of the preliminary results of BoP for the fourth quarter of 2013 are including:
The incessant deficit of the Current Account amounted to USD 365.3 million (9.8 percent of the GDP at current prices for the 4th quarter of 2013) with an increase of 44.6% compared to the previous quarter. The deficit of Current Account was caused mainly by the deficit in the Trade Balance of goods which was USD 1,125.7 million (30.2% of the GDP at current prices) with a decrease of 4.2% compared to the previous quarter.
The deficit in Services Balance amounted to USD 139.1 million with an increase of 44.0% compared to previous quarter. This increase was caused by the increase of the imports of travel and government services.
The surplus in Income Balance (compensations of employees and investments income) amounted to USD 361.4 million with an increase of 6.0% compared to the previous quarter, this surplus was due to a surplus in Compensations of Employees working in Israel that reached USD 327.9 million. While, the received investments income amounted to USD 36.8 million was mainly caused by the interest received on the Palestinian deposits in banks abroad.
According to the Current Transfers in the fourth quarter of 2013, the surplus value amounted to USD 538.1 million with a decrease of 20.6% compared to the previous quarter. The donors' current transfers was 47.7% of total value of receipts from abroad.
The surplus value of Capital and Financial Account amounted to USD 479.5 million was mainly caused by the surplus in Financial Account (direct investment, portfolio investments, other investments and reserve assets) amounted to USD 392.5.
The changes on Reserve Assets flow (increased) amounted to USD 50.7 million at PMA. Which reflects the overall balance.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) issued in a press release, the preliminary results of the Palestinian Registered* External Trade in goods of January, 01/2014, as follows:
Exports:
Exports decreased in January, 2014 by 8.7% compared to December, 2013 while it increased by 10.1% compared to January, 2013 and reached USD 68.6 Million.
Exports to Israel decreased in January, 2014 by 4.2% compared to December, 2013 and represented 90.2% of total exports in January, 2014.
On the other hand, exports to other countries decreased by 36.2% during the same period compared to December, 2013.
Imports:
Imports increased in January 2014 by 7.9% compared to December, 2013. And increased by 15.3% compared to January, 2013 and reached USD 419.3 Million.
Imports from Israel increased by 17.2% in January 2014 compared to December, 2013 and represented 69.8% of total imports in January 2014.
On the other hand, imports from other countries decreased by 8.8% compared to December, 2013.
Net Trade Balance on Registered Goods:
The trade balance which represents the difference between exports and imports showed an increase in trade deficit by 11.9% compared to December, 2013. And increased by 16.4% compared to January 2013 and reached USD 350.7 Million.
*: Includes actual data received from official sources
Exports:
Exports decreased in January, 2014 by 8.7% compared to December, 2013 while it increased by 10.1% compared to January, 2013 and reached USD 68.6 Million.
Exports to Israel decreased in January, 2014 by 4.2% compared to December, 2013 and represented 90.2% of total exports in January, 2014.
On the other hand, exports to other countries decreased by 36.2% during the same period compared to December, 2013.
Imports:
Imports increased in January 2014 by 7.9% compared to December, 2013. And increased by 15.3% compared to January, 2013 and reached USD 419.3 Million.
Imports from Israel increased by 17.2% in January 2014 compared to December, 2013 and represented 69.8% of total imports in January 2014.
On the other hand, imports from other countries decreased by 8.8% compared to December, 2013.
Net Trade Balance on Registered Goods:
The trade balance which represents the difference between exports and imports showed an increase in trade deficit by 11.9% compared to December, 2013. And increased by 16.4% compared to January 2013 and reached USD 350.7 Million.
*: Includes actual data received from official sources
