Israeli and Palestinian economic efforts in the West Bank praised by the US, IMF and Quartet Representative
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday (15 July) that relaxed Israeli conditions on internal trade and improved security have led to significant improvements in the Palestinian economy in the West Bank. The report by Oussama Kanaan, the IMF mission chief to the West Bank and Gaza, calls for restrictions on movement to continue to be removed:
“Continuation of the relaxation of the restrictions could result in real GDP growth in the West Bank of 7 percent for 2009 as a whole. This would represent the first significant improvement in living standards in the West Bank since 2006.” (15/07/09)
The IMF report also praised the “steady [economic] progress” the Palestinians have made for themselves, with particular credit given to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, himself a former World Bank economist and holder of a PhD in economics. Fayyad is scheduled to visit the southern West Bank districts of Hebron and Bethlehem to inaugurate a number of water wells and pumps on Monday (20 July). In addition, the US administration praised the Israeli government for its efforts. Speaking to the Jerusalem Post newspaper on Friday (17 July) a US State Department official said:
“We welcome the steps that Prime Minister Netanyahu has taken to increase access and movement for Palestinians in the West Bank... While more remains to be done, these are important steps that will help improve the situation on the ground and help create the context for the early resumption of negotiations towards a final-status agreement.” (17/07/09)
In an effort to continue to the boost the Palestinian economy and freedom of movement, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is considering what the Jerusalem Post newspaper described on Monday (20 July) as the “largest one-time easing of restrictions on Palestinians” ahead of the Muslim festival of Ramadan, which begins on 21 August. The list of gestures being considered includes the removal of over 100 checkpoints throughout the West Bank. Over the past two years, Israel has removed more than 100 checkpoints and roadblocks, including those at the entrances to the cities of Jericho, Jenin and Nablus. Quartet Representative Tony Blair visited Nablus on Tuesday (14 July) to praise recent developments in the West Bank city. He said that the West Bank economy is growing “because Palestinians are providing their own security today, and doing it well, and the Israelis are starting to lift the access and movement restrictions.”
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