Israel Matzav

'If only the Joooz would give us all their land'

'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen is once again blaming the Joooz for the fact that he and his predecessor chose to invest all their money in terrorism instead of economic development.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has blamed the "Israeli occupation" for the dire economic situation in the West Bank, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported.

"The economic situation is really difficult, and the main reason is the Israeli occupation," Abbas told official PA television.

"Israel exploits our resources and lands which increased our economic deficit," he continued.

The PA president also expressed concern that the Palestinian Authority would be unable to pay salaries for its employees in November as a result of the difficult economic situation.

Now where have I heard that before? Maybe if he stopped paying terrorists 6% of his budget, he could at least pay more of his real employees....

On Tuesday, the World Bank issued a report that said that the Palestinian Gross Domestic Product in the West Bank could increase by at least 35 percent, $3.4 billion annually, if Israel lifted its restrictions on Palestinian access and movement in Area C.

“Access to Area C will go a long way to solving Palestinian economic problems,” said Mariam Sherman, the outgoing World Bank Country Director for the Palestinian territories.

“The alternative is bleak. Without the ability to utilize the potential of Area C, the economic space will remain fragmented and stunted. Lifting multiple restrictions could transform the economy and substantially improve prospects for sustained growth,” she said.

Of course, that assumes that Israel will leave Area C and leave $3.4 billion in annual revenues of industry behind. And it also assumes that the 'Palestinians' will do a better job than they did with those greenhouses in Gaza....

Labels: Abu Mazen, Gaza expulsion, Palestinian economy, World Bank

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:29 AM