Sep
3
Written by:
Dr. Ernie Moore
Friday, September 03, 2010
What are the facts about the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza? TIP provides some insights. We won’t belabor a lot of interpretation. Just read and learn.
West Bank villages (Ernie Moore)
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West Bank Economy by the Numbers
During the past three years, terrorism and violence emanating from the West Bank has decreased significantly due to Israel’s security fence, Israeli military operations targeting terrorist infrastructure and improved coordination with the security forces of the Palestinian Authority. [1]
This has allowed Israel to ease security restrictions, which has helped boost the Palestinian economy. Checkpoints and roadblocks have been removed, stimulating trade and economic productivity. [2] Gross Domestic Product in the West Bank grew by 8.5 percent last year.
Several Palestinian companies have thrived in the improved economic climate, including Palestine Telecommunications which reported first quarter profits of $23.2 million, followed by Palestine Development and Investment at $10.9 million, Bank of Palestine at $8.8 million, Palestine Electric Company at $3.8 million, and Al Quds Bank at $1.9 million. [3]
West Bank Economy by the Numbers
6.8 percent: increase in total Palestinian GDP in the West Bank and Gaza in 2009 (8.5 percent in the West Bank; 1 percent growth in Gaza) [4]
2.9 percent: increase in GDP recorded in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 [5]
7 percent: projected GDP growth of total Palestinian economy (West Bank and Gaza) in 2010, as predicted by the International Monetary Fund [6]
9 percent: fall in unemployment in the West Bank, from 18.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 to 16.5 percent in the first quarter of 2010 [7]
22 percent: increase in construction activity in the West Bank in 2009 [8]
12 percent: increase in the West Bank service sector [9]
12 percent: increase in industrial production in the West Bank in 2009 [10]
12.5 percent: rise of the Palestinian stock market in 2009 [11]
50 percent: increase in Palestinian bank profits in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009
17 percent: increase in total Palestinian trade in 2008 over 2007 [12]
150: roadblocks in the West Bank removed during the past two years [13]
60: roadblocks the Israel Defense Forces stated would be removed in May 2010 [14]
27: checkpoints removed during the past two years. [15]
52 percent: increase in number of trucks carrying exports from the West Bank from May 2009 to May 2010 [16]
48 percent: increase in imports to the West Bank from May 2009 to May 2010 [17]
$858 million: estimated value of exports from the West Bank in 2010 [18]
$3.4 million: estimated value of imports to the West Bank in 2010 [19]
$1.2 billion: expected international aid for Palestinian Authority budget support for 2010 [20]
Footnotes:
[1] “Palestinian Terror in 2008: Statistics and Trends - December 2008,” Israel Security Agency, http://www.shabak.gov.il/SiteCollectionImages/english/TerrorInfo/2008-sum-english.pdf
[2] “The economic situation in the Palestinian Authority and Israeli relief measures: Periodic update,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dec. 6, 2009, http://ocha-gwapps1.unog.ch/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/JBRN-7YHG2P?OpenDocument
[3] Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, May 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin%20Issue%2044%
20-%20May%202010.pdf
[4] “Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, April 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin-Issue43-A4-2.pdf
[5] Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, July 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin-Issue%2046-July%202010.pdf
[6] “Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, April 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin-Issue43-A4-2.pdf
[7] Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, July 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin-Issue%2046-July%202010.pdf
[8] Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, April 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin-Issue43-A4-2.pdf
[9] Ibid.
[10] “Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, March 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin%20Issue%2042-%20March%202010.pdf
[11] “The economic situation in the Palestinian Authority and Israeli relief measures: Periodic update,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dec. 6, 2009, http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/c.hsJPK0PIJpH/b.5657687/k.FFBD/The_economic_situation_in_the_Palestinian_
Authority_and_Israeli_relief_measures__periodic_update.htm
[12] Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Laub, Karin, “Israel to ease travel limits in W. Bank,” The Associated Press, May 25, 2010, http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2010/05/25/israel_to_ease_limits_on_travel_in_w_bank/
[15] “The economic situation in the Palestinian Authority and Israeli relief measures: Periodic update,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dec. 6, 2009, http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/c.hsJPK0PIJpH/b.5657687/k.FFBD/The_economic_situation_in_the_Palestinian_
Authority_and_Israeli_relief_measures__periodic_update.htm
[16] Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, May 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin-Issue43-A4-2.pdf
[17] Ibid.
[18] Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, May 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin%20Issue%2044%20-%20May%202010.pdf
[19] Ibid.
[20] “Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Portland Trust, April 2010, http://www.portlandtrust.org/Bulletin-Issue43-A4-2.pdf
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