Economic Siege Imposed on the Palestinians

GAZA CITY (AFP) May 10 — The Hamas-led Palestinian government welcomed moves by the Middle East quartet to resume aid payments but expressed anger at the continued political boycott of the regime. “The government appreciates the efforts deployed by the international parties to alleviate the economic siege imposed on the Palestinian people,” government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said.

Coupled with Israel’s earlier decision to stop handing over customs duties that it collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, the suspension of aid has left the government unable to pay salaries in March and April for its 160,000 employees, including members of the security forces.

A Palestinian youth uses a ladder to reach an Israeli army tower at a section of Israel's separation barrier in Ai'da refugee camp near the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Israel will give the Palestinians until the end of the year to prove they are willing to negotiate a final peace deal, and will unilaterally set final borders with them by 2008 if they don't. AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen

EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters in New York that details of the “temporary international mechanism” would be fleshed out in the coming weeks.

While Hamas welcomed the prospect of an easing of the financial crisis, it tempered its reaction with criticism of the quartet’s insistence that aid would not be channelled to the government until it renounces violence, recognises Israel and respects previous peace accords.

● Drugless in Gaza – The Palestinian Genocide ◊ by Londonbear
Tue May 2nd, 2006 at 06:50:17 PM PST  

NABLUS, West Bank (AP/ABC) May 10 — Palestinian gas stations began shutting down and motorists lined up at pumps after an Israeli fuel company cut off deliveries today, deepening the humanitarian crisis that has followed Hamas’ rise to power.

An end to fuel supplies for the West Bank and Gaza could cripple hospitals, halt food deliveries and keep people home from work a devastating scenario for an economy already ravaged by Israeli and international sanctions.

Dor Energy, the Israeli company that has been the sole fuel provider to the Palestinians since interim peace agreements were signed in the mid-1990s, cited growing debts for its decision, Palestinian officials said.

● UK aid agencies highlight urgent Palestinian suffering

Warren Buffett Invests $4bn In ME Peace Effort

Israeli tycoon urges help for Palestinians

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (BBC News) July 17, 2002 — One week before a groundbreaking ceremony at a joint Israeli-Palestinian industrial park on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip, the latest Intifada broke out.

“People are dangerous when they have nothing to los “
Stef Wertheimer

The project – brainchild and long-time dream of Israeli industrialist Stef Wertheimer – never materialised, and the dusty piece of land which once promised to transform the Middle East through economic growth and co-existence now lies barren and deserted.

Jordan would be the first country to receive aid
under Mr Wertheimer's plans

Two years later, thousands of Israelis and Palestinians are dead. There is no peace process, and both societies are in the grip of economic crises.