Uncensored News from Israel » economy

EU: Gaza is Israel’s problem

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:16:21 +0000

The EU has scaled back its aid to Fatah, which now claims it cannot afford fuel for Gaza’s only power station. At the same time, Fatah supports 90,000 holders of security sinecures.

Hamas does not want to pay for fuel either.

It seems that Israel will now supply free fuel to Gaza, in addition to free water and electricity. Well, not exactly free: they send us rockets in return.

Half Gaza’s taxes go to Jerusalem

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:07:45 +0000

Hamas has vowed to invest half of its $60 million in tax revenue in East Jerusalem, Israel. Hamas’ civil budget is $540 million, 88% of which is funded by foreign aid, about the same amount per capita as Israel.

Jews foster Arab competition with our farmers

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:53:26 +0000

The Peres Center for Peace finances export-oriented farming in West Bank Arab villages. Besides increasing the price of labor for Jewish farmers, the Arabs farmers directly compete with them in export markets.

Ultra-cheap labor, free water and electricity stolen from Israel, a tax-free environment, and the politically correct European propensity to procure West Bank produce from Arabs rather than Jews ensures the Arabs’ competitiveness.

Palestinians want independence – but also Israeli money

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:40:04 +0000

Abbas interrupted his meeting with the European officials whom he lobbies for Palestinian independence in order to ask Netanyahu for a favor. Our professed enemy, who repeatedly warns us of the coming intifada, pleaded with the Israeli PM to transfer some money for the PA’s budget in advance because, you see, the Palestinians have a holiday.

Israel collects taxes for the terrorist Palestinian entity. Technically, the taxes are levied on Palestinian laborers in Israel, but in the end they increase prices for Israeli consumers.

Something wrong with Palestinian aid

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:50:39 +0000

If we’re to believe one Khoury, a former PA minister of economy, foreign aid to the terrorist regime dropped by 55% this year compared to 2008, which would be a welcome development. It is unlikely that there has been such a dramatic change: most probably, Khoury is ignoring the aid transferred to the Hamas regime in Gaza.

Khoury also claimed that Israel is somehow stifling the Palestinian economy, which is quite an accusation from an ethnic group which sports the highest economic growth rate among non-oil-producing Arabs, a feat it has accomplished by leeching off Jews for a century.

The spectacle took place in Jerusalem, which some still consider an Israeli city.

Israel has other economies to boost

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:22:58 +0000

Normal countries respond to crises with mercantilist measures, and increase customs tariffs. Israel, however, prides herself on opening the Jalama Crossing in Galilee to aid the Palestinian economy, which in fact is bustling with activity. Now tens of thousands more Palestinians will be leeching on Israel, dumping their tax-free produce on our markets, employing their tax-free labor to compete with Jewish companies, and stealing Israeli cars.

Gesheft goes on

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:22:47 +0000

Our countries might be at war, but that does not preclude Jews from trading with the enemy. Hamas contracted the Israeli government to supply Gaza with 7,000 animals for the upcoming Eid al Adha, a Muslim holiday of sacrifice.

On other hand, Israel has no reason to reject the profit and pass the deal to the Egyptians, who would be happy to supply Gaza.

World Bank’s Gaza plan was doomed

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:20 +0000

In a Media Line interview, former World Bank chief Wolfensohn shared one curious bit of information: the international plan for Gaza development was based on operating Israeli greenhouses left by Gush Katif evictees, and tourism.

Not surprisingly, the plan failed. The Palestinians immediately destroyed the greenhouses, which in any case could have employed a few thousand Arabs at most. The plans for tourism were equally questionable: with excellent, cheap, and safe Red Sea resorts in Egypt, why would foreigners fly to Gaza?

Too many refugees to return

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:41:16 +0000

A PLO report claims there are 4.7 million refugees, 2.5 million of them residing abroad.

It is a great testimony to Israeli oppression that the number of refugees has increased eleven-fold since 1948.

Palestinian refugee estimates are grossly inflated for political reasons, and to obtain more aid from UNRWA. The most common trick is to ignore mortality and emigration.

Nevertheless, the figures are reassuring. Even if we only accept the more conservative estimate of 1.3 million foreign “refugees,” their number is too large for any kind of Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Neither Israel nor the West Bank Palestinians can afford to have this massive, discontented, criminal population streaming into their cities. The more they breed, the less probable a two-state solution becomes.

Even Arab horses are fake

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:04:41 +0000

A Zoo in El Bureij, Gaza, boasted of several zebras—which proved to be painted donkeys.

B’Tselem: Jews are poisoning Palestine

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:55:03 +0000

In their newest report, the ultra-left nuts accused Israel of preventing the Palestinians from building water treatment plants.

Incidentally, the only water treatment plant in Palestine was built by Jews, and the other three—which were also built by Jews—fell into disrepair after being transferred to the Palestinians.

The Arabs dump more than 50 million cubic meters of raw sewage in Judea and Samaria every year.

But of course, Jews are guilty of that.

$5.2 billion aid to Gaza: how to spend?

admin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:24:25 +0000

The vast majority of the 2,800 destroyed homes were empty to begin with. Israel generally bombed houses with weapon caches. Tanks fired at booby-trapped houses; IDF had them marked on the maps. The houses were booby-trapped months ago as Hamas prepared for Israeli invasion, and thus were not habitable.
Reports from Gaza indicate no homelessness.

By far, most of the destroyed houses were associated with Palestinian terrorists. It is bizarre to aid in their reconstruction.

There is no way for Gazans to utilize $5.2 billion. Their GDP is estimated at $600 million in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. But the aid comes in nominal dollars; a ballpark nominal-to-PPP estimate would be 5:1. The aid, therefore, amounts to something like $25 billion PPP, or forty years of Gazan GDP.
Even if Gazans import all their construction materials rather than using traditional adobe blocks, the aid still exceeds their GDP manifold. Simply, Gazans don’t have enough construction workers to utilize the mammoth aid. Close to 99 percent of it will be diverted to Hamas’ other activities.

Very little of the $5.2 billion pledge will be actually transferred to the PA.

EU pushes for communism in Gaza

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:06:52 +0000

Besides funding the UNRWA, the EU stepped up its direct involvement in Gaza. The latest complaint is that Israel “only” allows 120 trucks a day into the enemy’s territory. This comes to three pounds of free food per Gazan, per day. The EU wants to restore aid to its previous level of 500 trucks, which was about twelve pounds per Arab per day.

The EU and the US are UNRWA’s primary donors. They have created a communist paradise in Gaza where almost everyone is poor, but everyone’s needs are provided free. The Gazans do not have to work for living and bear no responsibility for housing, educating, or otherwise caring for their families; the UNRWA takes care of it all. Accordingly, the Arabs bred from 200,000 to 1.5 million – a mass of unskilled, criminalized people who cannot possibly be employed in the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA, which works with Palestinians, is the the only UN aid agency that provides food to a fully settled population living in its own country and facing no employment restrictions.

Palestinians steal aid before it arrives

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:25:17 +0000

As Arab countries promised more than $2 billion to finance Gaza reconstruction, Fatah officials quickly registered foreign straw firms with construction licenses to channel the funds to. Fatah and Hamas leaders accuse each other of attempting theft.

Likely, the promised aid won’t arrive. Fatah received less than 10% of the aid promised to it a year ago at the Paris donor conference. Arab countries promise a lot, but deliver little.

But why does Gaza need billions? Hamas promised 4,000 euro per destroyed house, which is more than enough to rebuild a modest home in Gaza. At most, the cost of repairs runs to 200 million dollars.

Another anti-Semitic report from World Bank

admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:28:37 +0000

The World Bank chastised Israel for suffocating Palestinian trade with roadblocks, which are actually very few in the Palestinian-controlled areas. But how come Palestinians have the fastest income growth rate of all non-oil Arabs? The World Bank doesn’t address that puzzle. And why the Jordanians, who are predominantly of Palestinian origin, are so poor, although there are regrettably no Israeli roadblocks in Jordan?

Curiously, the World Bank, the purported free-trade bastion, has become a leftist bunch.

World Bank blames booms and busts on Israel

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:24:41 +0000

The World Bank routinely condemns Israel for the stagnating Palestinian economy. This time, Jews are also responsible for the boom. Under the Israeli oppression, real estate prices in the West Bank are booming. Some would say that’s a sign of a rich economy, but the World Bank pays no heed to the free market. Instead, the bank laments that the high prices are out of the reach of most Palestinians. Oddly, the World Bank doesn’t condemn the US because real estate is so expensive in Manhattan.
In the World Bank’s opinion, the elders of Zion push real estate prices up in the West Bank by building roads there and closing off large areas. Obviously, the bank’s analysts have never been to the West Bank, where huge areas under Palestinian occupation are empty. The story is still worse for the refugee camps: Palestinian leadership purposely keeps them shut, causing major overcrowding there. For example, refugee camps just outside of Schem, under the complete Palestinian authority, have a population density five times that of Schem.

World Bank: Israel is responsible for weak Palestinian economy

admin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:08:55 +0000

Of course, and also for the WTC bombing and Lehman Brothers failure. Since 1948, Palestinian economy enjoys the fastest growth of all non-oil Arab economies because it parasitizes on Israel. In the Arab world, 99% of exports and a comparable proportion of GDP is oil-related.
After destroying the Latin American economies with its recommendations, the World Bank would do well to be more thoughtful. Perhaps there is something wrong with Arabs rather than Jews?

Hamas shows Israel a labor option

admin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:25:02 +0000

When Fatah-affiliated teachers’ union in Gaza went on strike, Hamas announced a lockout and replaced them when its own loyalists.
Next time when Israeli teachers go on one of their regular strikes, the Hamas example should be considered.

Egyptians discover 20 tunnels into Gaza

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:32:47 +0000

In a clear sign of economic progress, Palestinians were building a half-mile-long pipeline to transport fuel into Gaza.
Their ingenuity and labor are truly admirable. About one hundred tunnels operate in Gaza, with new ones coming up daily. Smugglers use them extensively for anything from cigarettes to weapons, and the going rate for smuggling is $100 per box of anything.

Egyptians intercept 1000 lbs of hashish near Gaza

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:17:20 +0000

The UN sheds tears over the extreme poverty in Gaza, but its population is apparently solvent enough to consume massive quantities of drugs.

Palestinians blame donors for budget deficit

admin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:05:36 +0000

Fatah gangster Fayad, other officials lashed out against donor countries for their failure to subsidize the Palestinian Authority. That “failure” led to Palestinian budget deficit of $2 billion. It doesn’t occur to Palestinians that budget deficit cannot be donors’ fault, but is the result of their own abysmal productivity and irresponsible spending. 5% of Palestinians are employed by their government as security men. Astonishingly for Fatah thugs, Arab donor countries demand more transparent accounting and reconciliation with Hamas. Israel is the only donor who pays Fatah on time with “tax transfers.”
Palestine receives more foreign aid than Israel.

Fake figures from Palestine

admin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:22:36 +0000

Palestinian Bureau of Statistics published poverty rate as 80% in Gaza and 48% in the West Bank. Never mind that in the Palestinian black market economy, statistics inherently is a genre of fiction.
The word “poverty” means income substantially below the average or normal for the particular society. By definition, poverty rate is always small.

It pays to be terrorists

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:52:30 +0000

Israel made $54 million of “tax transfers” to the Fatah gang for May. Palestinian terrorists complain they are entitled to $20 million more.

Arabs pollute our seas

admin — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:45:49 +0000

Gazans have dumped 17 million gallons of sewage into Mediterranean in the last 3 months. Though the Arabs claim this as the result of Israeli blockade, comparable dumping was taking place for the years.

Fayad: Gazans don’t seek work

admin — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:25:39 +0000

Palestinian “prime minister” means they live comfortably on the UN handouts, foreign aid, and Israeli tax transfers duly transferred to Gaza by Fatah government.

Poor, poor Gazans

admin — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:17:23 +0000

spent at least $300 million in the Egyptian-occupied Sinai during the last week when they breached Egypt-Gaza border.

$7.4 billion aid will reach Gaza

admin — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:21:31 +0000

Fayad promised to deliver to Gaza some of the aid international community pledged to Palestinian Authority. Hamas called insufficient aid sharing a declaration of war.

55,000 Gazans receive money from Israel

admin — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:34:54 +0000

Palestine’s government employees in Gaza received salaries from the $110 million paid by Israel to Fatah. Rewarding Hamas voters and employees, Israeli government ignores a question: how did they work for 15 months without receiving salaries? Palestine is flushed with cash from Muslim governments and laborers’ payments for illegal work in Israel.

Israeli blockade of Gaza works

admin — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:34:26 +0000

Human rights organizations claim 85% of Gazans receive the UN food aid (an inflated number) and three-quarters of factories are closed (Legal Center for Freedom of Movement). The next time the Gazans will go to polling booths, they might think better.

Israel helps Arab animals

admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 08:37:31 +0000

The Foreign Ministry announced that Israel sent 733 tons of animal fodder to Gaza – free. Shelling of Israel from Gaza continues.

Shalit kidnapper’s family receives its 38 pieces of silver

admin — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:53:32 +0000

Israeli killed Farawneh, one of the kidnappers, soon after the event. Palestinian Authority pays his family 38 shekels per month, or about $10. Other families of Palestinian martyrs also receive pensions from Palestinian government. Palestinian pensions are largely funded by Israeli tax transfers.

Israel will pay the Hamas government

admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 23:15:57 +0000

Bowing down to the Quartet’s pressure, Israel agrees to release unspecified amount of tax revenues she collects for the Palestinian authority. $100 million released earlier this year were misused by the Palestinians, much went to Hamas programs and employees.
Israel would do well by using the “Palestinian” money to pay for reinforcing Sderot. Paying an enemy country which refuses to sign peace treaty and consistently engages in hostile acts, is without precedent in the modern world history.

Hamas observes Arab embargo against Israel

admin — Sat, 26 May 2007 09:37:00 +0000

Hamas threatens to block British Gas deal with Israel. Israel wants to buy billions dollars worth of gas from BG’s offshore gas field near Gaza which Barak has transferred to Arafat.

Per-capita aid to Palestine is the world’s largest

admin — Sat, 19 May 2007 11:19:37 +0000

Foreign aid to Palestine increased to $900 mil in 2006 from $349 mil in 2005 despite boycott. Despite the state of war and rocket barrages from Gaza, Israel continues to collect tax payments on behalf of Palestinian Authority.

World Bank accuses Israel of harming Palestinian economy

admin — Wed, 09 May 2007 14:38:34 +0000

Echoing the ludicrous Dayton’s recommendations, the World Bank criticizes Israeli roadblocks and restrictions on terrorists’ movement between Gaza and Judea/Samaria.
Under the oppressive Israeli rule, Palestinians posted the highest non-oil economic growth rates among the Arab nations. The oppressed Palestinians have one of the world’s highest population growth rates. Palestinian economy is entirely dependent upon selling tax-free produce and labor in Israel. The World Bank remains silent about Western countries that close their borders to migrant workers and oppose price dumping. Israel restricted influx of Palestinian workers after the terrorists became too many.

80,000 Palestinians protest against Hamas,

admin — Sat, 05 May 2007 07:13:11 +0000

strike over not receiving their salaries on time. No Palestinian group has ever protested Hamas or PLO attacks on Israel.

Abu Mazen pleads with Greece to end embargo on Palestine

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 09:19:06 +0000

No embargo was ever imposed on Palestinian trade. US and EU briefly ceased aid to Palestine after the democratic elections brought Hamas to power. Palestine receives more aid compared to its GDP than any other country.

World Bank: Palestinian economy must parasitize on Israel

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:50:07 +0000

Israeli trade restrictions cripple Palestinian economy. Arab workers lack access to higher-wage Israeli labor market. Israel must not hinder free movement of Palestinians between Gaza and Judea/ Samaria.