World Bank criticises Israel over Palestinian economy
The World Bank today called on Israel to ease its extensive restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to fuel a Palestinian economic revival.
In a harsh report, the bank criticised Israel for extending legitimate security measures to expand and protect settlement activity and the relatively unhindered movement of settlers and other Israelis in and out of the West Bank.
The US has been pushing Israel to relax some of the restrictions to allow the hard-pressed Palestinian economy scope for recovery, and the World Bank’s 18-page report - a comprehensive assessment of the restrictions - reinforced that message.
It said that while Israel had shown a willingness to relax specific restrictions, incremental steps lacked permanence and certainty and could be easily withdrawn or replaced by other restrictions.
“Moreover, sustainable economic recovery will remain elusive if large areas of the West Bank remain inaccessible for economic purposes and restricted movement remains the norm for the vast majority of Palestinians and expatriate Palestinian investors,” the report added.
Israel claimed its system of restrictions was necessary to counter terrorism.
guardian
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