On December 20, 2001, UN official Terry Larson convened a press conference and accused Israel of massive economic neglect of the PAlestinian Authority.

At the specific request of Israel Resource News Agency, the IDF spokesman’s office issued the following summary of economic benefits that Israel currently provides the Palestinian Authority. This document was distributed to all major Israeli and foreign media and not quoted in any news outlet.

Thursday, December 20, 2001

Employment In Israel

– 5,800 Palestinian workers are permitted to work in Israel.

– Female Palestinian workers from the age of 25 and up are permitted to work in Israel without restrictions on the number of workers allowed into Israel.

– Work permits were manufactured for Palestinian workers to work in the industrial area of the West Bank and the Israeli communities there.

– Erez industrial area is always active, and is a source of livelihood for about 4,500 Palestinians every day, despite the fact that terrorists continually attempt to target the entrance to the industrial area, firing mortar shells during working hours.

– In addition, 6,000 workers are employed in the Israeli industrial areas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

– Making the job circle bigger by lowering criteria.

– Israel is examining the option of allowing workers to stay over night in Israel – depending of course on the workplace, the employer and the current state.

Industrial Regions

– Israel is looking at the option of making a safety-mantle with the Palestinians, which will allow the entrance of Israelis and Palestinians into the Industrial Regions. It was agreed that Karni will be the pilot for the rest of the industrial regions. Actions being taken right now:

– The removal of restrictions on imports and exports of merchandise and raw material to or from Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

– Karni Crossing: An average of 600 trucks carrying exports and imports are allowed through daily.

– Sufa Crossing: An average of about 80 trucks go through daily.

– New Allenby Bridge: Permits a higher level of economic activity between Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

– Merchants and Buisnessmen: 5,000 Palestinian merchants and businessmen have permits to enter Israel.

– Israel is testing whether or not to give the Palestinians a security package which would allow free passage by Israelis and Palestinians into Industrial areas.

Agriculture

– Israel has initiated the formation of joint committees locally to cooperate in bringing about agricultural progression.

– During March of this year, as part of a veterinary cooperation program between the two peoples Israel sent 200,000 vaccinations against the “Foot and Mouth” disease to the West Bank, where Palestinians claimed had spread. In addition, Israel has approved passes from the West Bank to Israel for veterinary visits.

Israel broadened the fishing area to 12 miles, even though there is a great risk of weapon smuggling via sea. This makes it possible for tens of thousands of Palestinians to earn a living.

Infrastructure

– Israel will continue supplying the foundations for electricity, water and communication services – even though the Palestinian’s debt of over $50,000,000

– Israel is endorsing projects that give answers in the field of foundation and is cooperating with the donating countries in order to continue endorsing the projects.

– Israel has approved building sewer foundations in “Region C”.

Electricity

– The Power Station in the Gaza strip will be built and ready for work around the end of November 2002.

Israeli acts to ease the water shortage

– Israel is endorsing 23 Project that will connect the villages to water companies.

– 3 connection were established to the Israeli water network.

– 5 water drills were approved.

– Israel and the USAID will be running a water-drilling project to what they did with electricity problem. USAID will also help with the desalination of water and building a water source foundation for the entire Gaza Strip.

Commerce & Trade

– Allowing more people to enter Israel for commerce actions. Allowing the activity of the commerce in Israel to run for more hours.

International Borders

– The continual flow of people and goods through Allenby and Rafah crossings.

Alenby Terminal – a daily average about 1,850 passangers (1,000 to Jordan and 850 from Jordan).

Status Report about general statistics per week

1. International Terminals – Alenby & Raphiach: – Alenby Terminal –

a) Entering the border: 6,550 passengers.

b) Going abroad: 6,550 passengers.

– Alenby Packaging Terminal –

a) Entering the border: 110 trucks.

b) Going abroad: 5.

– Raphiach Terminal –

a) Entering the border: 1,500 passengers.

b) Going abroad: 1,750 passengers.

– Raphiach Packaging Terminal –

a) Entering the border: 6 trucks.

b) Going abroad: – ?

2. The Airport – has been closed since February 6th.

3. Commerce Movement –

– To the Gaza strip – 1,450 trucks.

– From the Gaza strip – 1,050 trucks.

4. Concrete –

– 275 trucks to the Gaza strip.

– 95 trucks to the Judea/Samaria Junction near Beit El

– 65 trucks to Jordan, through Alenby.

5. Large Crates (Back to Back):

– In Karni: 770 crate trucks

– Sufa Crossing: 355 trucks from Jordan

– Altogether 1,125 trucks go to Gaza

6. Gas & Fuel –

– Gas:

To the Gaza strip: 2,234,000 liter, To Ayosh: 3,495,000 liter.

– Fuel:

To the Gaza strip: 530 tons, To Ayosh: 930 tons.

7. Employment in Israel –

Agriculture workers only are permitted to enter Israel.

Female workers are permitted to enter Israel.

– A total of 2,550 valid permits.

Humanitarian Aid

– Israel has permitted receiving 524 humanitarian donations & aids from a total of 584.

– When there is a closure, Israel allows Palestinians carrying special permits to enter Israel.

– Israel is obligated to establish the mandate given to international organizations and to the ICRC.

– Israel has initiated a special program for people who want to visit their families who live on the other side of the border.

– Israel permits people to enter Har-Habait on Fridays and pray.

– Israel permits visitors from abroad to enter the Palestinian Authority.

Tourism

– Coordination between Israel and Palestinians to increase the tourist activities in Israel (apart from Christmas Eve) with emphasis on Bethlehem and the christening location. In addition, roadblock 300 is being reconstructed in order to facilitate the entrance of visitors during the holiday.

The Villages Beit-Dejan, Beit-Phorik, Rantiss & Yericho

In the villages of Beit-Dajan and Beit-Phorik there exists a shortage of gas – due to the fact that the gas-companies themselves and the city of Nablus both suffer from a gas shortage.

In addition to that, the IDF does not allow transit between the city and the villages.

Within houses there are various quantities of food stored.

In the shops and stores however, the granary and food-storage is starting to deplete. There is no water shortage in the villages.

The heads of the village councils have already addressed the D.C.O of Nablus in order to make arrangements for transit of fuel, gas and food towards the holiday of “E’dl fiter”

– Rammalla:

The food traders responsible for the arrival of food to the village of Rantis report that there is no food shortage.

There is a gas station near the village and gas is transported to the people of Rammalla without a problem.

The general feeling in the village is that of distance and of a disconnection. That is due to the fact that it is very hard getting there, and especially today – when it takes about 3 hours.

– Jericho:

There is no shortage whatsoever of food in the city, due to the free transit of trucks carrying merchandise. In the city, there are about 30 merchants and shopkeepers hold in their stores product that can last for at least one week. There is no shortage of gas or fuel, due to the free transits of trucks during the last week. The is a storage of about 25 tons of gas.

The Gaza Strip Region

– Karni Terminal – through the Karni terminal pass about a few hundred trucks a day, which bring various kinds of merchandise and stocks from Israel to the Gaza strip and vise-versa.

– Sopha Terminal – crate-carriers are allowed to enter the unloading zone on the Palestinian side. More then 100 such trucks arrive there every day.

– A.T Erez – the activity there is as it should be, when over 3,000 Palestinian workers enter the area.

– The Fishing Range – Palestinian fishing boats are allowed to exit the Gaza strip up to 12 miles from the beach.

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