World Bank: Palestinians Too Poor to Be Independent
Economy of Occupied Territories 'Isn't Strong Enough'
Suggesting that the poverty fueled by the open-ended Israeli occupation is a justification for the continuation of that occupation, the World Bank today issued a report warning against allowing the creation of an independent Palestine, saying the territory was “too poor.”
The report concludes that the Palestinians don’t participate in enough foreign trade, saying “manufacturing and agriculture have dropped significantly” in recent years and that the only growth industry is the foreign-subsidized Palestinian Authority.
It did mention Israeli restrictions on commerce, but only briefly. Still, this was enough for Israeli officials to shoot off an angry retort that the constraints on the Palestinian economy are based on “vital security needs” of the occupation force.
The report is in stark contrast to the IMF’s 2011 report, which said the organization was satisfied that the Palestinian Authority had created a “strong banking system” and was economically ready for statehood.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- 12 Chechen Fighters Killed in Central Syria - May 24th, 2013
- Syrian Rebel Unity Talks on Brink of Collapse - May 24th, 2013
- New US Embassy Guards to Cost $1.6 Million Each - May 24th, 2013
- Constant Mortar Fire as Sectarian Violence Continues in North Lebanon - May 24th, 2013
- Obama's Drone Limits Welcomed in Pakistan, If They Pan Out - May 24th, 2013
steve
July 25th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
How convenient
All Israel has to do is keep Palestinians poor and then they can never have a state because they are too poor.
How perfectly convenient
mojo
July 25th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Few years ago the father of all zionism in USA was the chief executive of world bank, he was giving, or stealing money giving it to his lover where he was fired over his illegal affairs. Now just think about it, world bank is the entity of the zionism with Saudis, Bank of England and US Federal reserve so as world monitory bank involved, what els would you expect for such bank tell you, they are running the government of Israel and have the entire US and EU politicians in their pocket, they want for Palestinians to be the Israelis slaves, they want for other nations to be Israel slaves, among other american people.
sherban
July 25th, 2012 at 11:12 pm
But Palestinians are too poor just because the occupation and all along the occupation will continue the Palestinians will become more and more poor.It is the hypocrisy of "world bank"which doesn't explain the cause of poverty:the occupation.
tadzio
July 25th, 2012 at 11:36 pm
Is poverty a bar to independence for Haiti, Mali, East Timor, etc.? Or is this "standard' only applied to a roadblock to zionism? This smacks of unadulterated Racism, in this case Jewish Supremicism. If heavy reliance on foreign aid is a bar to independence, how can Israel, with its parasitic relationship to the United States, Germany and the Diaspora be a member of the family of nations? Have the authors of this report been examined for possible bias? This does not pass a smell test.
peter vojta
July 26th, 2012 at 12:10 am
Oh, really? Realestate bussines is gone? Is not Palestine land worth anything? So, why other people fight over that land? peter czech
the lion
July 26th, 2012 at 12:24 am
Of course it is very difficult to have foreign trade if you cannot get goods to market! Now I WONDER who would stop goods from getting to Market???????????
Jamal
July 26th, 2012 at 5:25 am
All the information points to a single secular state as the best solution.
tom dee
July 26th, 2012 at 5:49 am
Amazing. The banks fully owned by one faith now claim those who do not exist cannot afford to exist without the money, They have no money because it has been stolen. Even tax money on the Palestinians are stolen by the israel government. To save it it time to get religion out of government is pale yo getting religion out of banking. Give freedom a chance and require equal religious equality in the banks. Shame on this bank making such a statement but the religion that own the bank has no shame
curmudgeonvt
July 26th, 2012 at 5:51 am
"…manufacturing and agriculture have dropped significantly…" Seriously?!?!? You think maybe Israel might just have something to do with that?
Making Palestinian Life Impossible: Israel’s Push to Annex the West Bank « Antiwar.com Blog
July 26th, 2012 at 9:09 am
[...] the news section, Jason Ditz points to the recent World Bank report which considers a Palestinian state not viable because “ the [...]
John_Muhammad
July 26th, 2012 at 9:13 am
Hmmm… how can the Israelis abide by a World Bank statement on a people the Israeli government says don't exist?
dublinokarra
July 26th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Any country, political party or organisation without Jews tends to be harmonious, decent and of high moral fiber.