Donor organizations: Aid to Palestinians ineffective unless Israel changes policies

Thursday December 13, 2007 17:33 by Manar Jibrin - IMEMC News

Both the World Bank and Oxfam International issued statements Thursday challenging Israeli policy in advance of next week's donor's conference in Paris.  The two organizations are both major donors to the Palestinian people, and issued the statements to point out what they see as the ineffectiveness of further aid money, given the current Israeli policies.

Gaza border closed by Israeli forces

Due to the Israeli closure of all borders of the Gaza Strip, Oxfam reports that increased transportation expenses will cost the organization at least $200 million.

The World Bank said in its report, which will be presented at the Paris donor's conference, that increased aid money and economic investment in the Palestinian economy will be wholly useless unless Israeli restrictions are eased.

The World Bank predicted in its analysis that, even with this influx of cash, the Palestinian economy will continue to shrink as long as Israel refuses to remove trade and travel restrictions on the Palestinian people.

Israel currently occupies all areas of the West Bank, and all borders, air and sea space of the Gaza Strip.  In addition, more than 700 checkpoints and roadblocks cover all areas of the West Bank, preventing Palestinians freedom of movement.  All borders in and out of Gaza are closed by Israeli forces, and the Palestinian population is imprisoned inside the territory with no way to escape from the daily Israeli attacks.

Jeremy Hobbs, the head of Oxfam International, said Thursday, “More aid will not be effective until donor governments insist on a rapid change in Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian movement in the occupied Palestinian territories and the ending of the blockade of the Gaza Strip."  He challenged donor countries on their unwillingness to challenge Israeli policies, saying, "It is not enough simply to dump more money into Palestine.  Foreign governments and the Palestinian Authority must increase the pressure on the Israeli government to lift the blockade of Gaza and make it possible for people in the West Bank to go about their business. This is essential if the Annapolis peace process is to work."

The donor's conference is scheduled for December 17th, and will involve a number of donor countries, the European Union and aid organizations like Oxfam and the World Bank.  The Palestinian President is expected to ask for a total of $5.5 billion over three years to revive the Palestinian economy.

translated by Manar Jibrin, rewritten by Jenka Soderberg 

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