The World Bank released a report, Economic Monitoring Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, on the Palestinian economy ahead of an Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting on 30 April. The report criticizes Israel’s restrictions of “dual use” goods, goods that may be used for civilian purposes but might also have military applications. In the West Bank, Israel restricts 56 items and in Gaza, the number is 118 items. According to the World Bank, the restriction of “dual use” goods is severely stifling economic growth, which without the restrictions could rise by 6 percent in the West Bank and about 11 percent in Gaza by 2025. The World Bank mentions restrictions on communication equipment, chemicals, and fertilizers as particularly damaging in the West Bank and Gaza, and restrictions on construction equipment and machinery as holding back growth in Gaza. The report also mentions the blockade on Gaza and the withholding of tax revenue from the PA as reasons for the poor Palestinian economy.
Quarterly Updates for (1 Apr 2019 — 30 Jun 2019)