How Palestinians Ruined Their Own Economy

Am I the only one that is sick and tired of hearing about the Palestinian economic crisis? Today it was the International Labour Organisation (ILO) whining about the number of Palestinians living in poverty and then blaming it on Israel.

'2.4m Palestinians in crisis'

Geneva - The plight of Palestinians in the occupied territories has worsened dramatically, with 2.4 million now living in poverty, according to a report published on Monday by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

In a study of territories including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights, the UN agency said the economic crisis had accelerated with the number of households below the poverty line increasing 26% in the year to March 2007. Seven out of ten Palestinian thouseholds were in poverty today; nine out of ten in Gaza and one in two in the West Bank. Only one in three people had a job. Each employed person supported six dependents.

The report blamed constant border closures and constraints by the Israelis which left the territories isolated and made it too expensive to move goods.

There is goes-- another study the finger is pointed at Israel. Nothing can be further from the truth. Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for those people struggling to make a living. But every times take a look some examples of how the Palestinians have shot themselves in the economic foot.

3,000 Greenhouses: Looters strip Gaza greenhouses Facilities seen as key to Palestinians’ rebuilding of area vacated by Israelis The Associated Press Sept 13, 2005 DEKALIM, Gaza Strip - Palestinians looted dozens of greenhouses on Tuesday, walking off with irrigation hoses, water pumps and plastic sheeting in a blow to fledgling efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip. Palestinian police stood by helplessly Tuesday as looters carted off materials from greenhouses in several settlements, and commanders complained they did not have enough manpower to protect the prized assets. In some instances, there was no security and in others, police even joined the looters, witnesses said.

When Israel left Gaza, they left the basis for an agricultural economy with those 3,000 high tech greenhouses. The Palestinians chose to destroy them rather than use them.

Increased Aid: according to the UN-- aid to the Palestinian Authority was up from $350 Million in 2005 to 900 Million in 2006 and increase of over 250%. So during the same period that the number of people under the poverty line was increasing 26%, international aid almost tripled. Maybe if the Palestinian Government spent some of that cash on its economy instead of terrorism the Palestinian people would be in better shape. In the least Somebody's got to call a CPA because either someone is pocketing the cash, or the price of explosives has gone through the roof.

Two sides to every territory: Its seems that every report points to Israeli check points as holding back Palestinian efforts at bringing their goods to market. First off the checkpoints are there to protect Israeli citizens from the Palestinian war mongering government who has this annoying habit of sending terrorists across those checkpoints. But even more than that is the fact that the last time I looked, there were two countries on either side of each of those disputed territories. West Bank Palestinians could also go through Jordan and Gaza could go through Egypt. So whats the problem except for the fact that Jordan and Egypt want it to be Israel's problem rather than theirs.

Thats why I am tried about reading about a Palestinian Economic crisis, its just plain silly. We are taking about self inflicted woulds that Israel us taking the hit for.