fertilizersccdp

InternationalLabourConference,98thSession,2009ReportoftheDirector-GeneralAppendixThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritoriesInternationalLabourOfficeGenevaISBN978-92-2-120630-9ISSN0074-6681Firstedition2009ThedesignationsemployedinILOpublications,whichareinconformitywithUnitedNationspractice,andthepresentationofmaterialthereindonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartoftheInternationalLabourOfficeconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,areaorterritoryorofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiers.
ReferencetonamesoffirmsandcommercialproductsandprocessesdoesnotimplytheirendorsementbytheInternationalLabourOffice,andanyfailuretomentionaparticularfirm,commercialproductorprocessisnotasignofdisapproval.
ILOpublicationscanbeobtainedthroughmajorbooksellersorILOlocalofficesinmanycountries,ordirectfromILOPublications,InternationalLabourOffice,CH-1211Geneva22,Switzerland.
Cataloguesorlistsofnewpublicationsareavailablefreeofchargefromtheaboveaddress,orbyemail:pubvente@ilo.
org.
Visitourwebsite:www.
ilo.
org/publns.
FormattedbyTTE:referenceConfrep-ILC98(2009)-DG_Appendix_[2009-05-0108-1]-En.
docPrintedinSwitzerlandiiiPrefaceThisyear,inaccordancewiththemandategivenbytheInternationalLabourConference,Iagainsentahigh-levelmissiontotheoccupiedArabterritories,Israel,theSyrianArabRepublic,andtheArabLabourOrganizationandLeagueofArabStatesinCairotoreportonthesituationofArabworkersoftheoccupiedterritories.
Themissionenjoyedthefullcooperationofallthepartiesconcerned,forwhichIamverygrateful.
ThisreaffirmsthebroadsupportforthevaluesembodiedbytheILO.
Myrepresentativesheldin-depthdiscussionswithawiderangeofinterlocutorsfromthePalestinianAuthority,andemployersandworkersorganizationsintheoccupiedArabterritories,constituentsinIsraelandintheSyrianArabRepublic,andrepresentativesoftheUnitedNationsandinternationalandnon-governmentalorganizations.
AllofthemprovidedvaluableinformationandinsightsonthesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories,whichhaveguidedthepreparationofthisreport.
Asalways,themissionconducteditsfact-findingworkwithadeepsenseofcommitmentandimpartiality.
TheReportdepictsadismalhuman,economicandsocialsituationintheoccupiedArabterritories,overshadowedbystalledpeacenegotiations.
NoteworthydifferencesbetweenGazaandtheWestBankwereobserved,aswellassomecommonproblems.
Intheaftermathofthedevastatingwarattheturnoftheyear,thesituationinGazahasalltheingredientsofahumanitariancatastrophe.
Thepopulationiseffectivelysealedofffromtherestoftheworldandlivesoninternationalassistance.
Withthousandsoffactoriesclosedandpeopleoutofwork,themoderneconomyhasgroundtoahalt,replacedbyinformalmakeshiftactivityandthe"tunneleconomy".
Thescarsofthiswarwillremainforsometimeahead.
PlansforthereconstructionofGazaareatastandstill,pendingminimalprogressonnegotiationstofacilitateaccessandmovementofgoods,whichinturndependsonamuch-neededreconciliationamongPalestinianpoliticalleaders.
ThelongerthecompleteclosureofGazalasts,themoreacutethesenseof"collectivepunishment"ofitspeople–afeelingsharedbyPalestinianslivingintheoccupiedArabterritories.
InEastJerusalem,theArabpopulationissubjecttoincreasingpressuresondwellings,habitat,residencyrightsandconsequentlyjobsandlivelihoods.
EastJerusalemhasbeenbasicallycutofffromitssocial,economicandpoliticalcontextintheWestBank.
Incontrast,thesituationofworkersandfamiliesintheWestBankappearstohavebenefitedfromaslightimprovementinsecurityandeconomicactivity.
However,thislullhasnotbeenabletohalt,muchlessreverse,thedeclineinaverageincomesandthegrimemploymentoutlook.
Closuremeasures,includingtheSeparationWallandintensifiedsettlementactivityinoccupiedterritory,havekeptatightlidonanyeconomicshootsthatmightappear.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritoriesivOverall,thesedevelopmentsareamatterofextremeconcern.
Theyareexperiencedinconjunctionwithstalledpeacenegotiationsthathaveyettodeliveranytangibleresults.
ThisgrimpictureisfurtherovershadowedbytheprotracteddiscussionsovertheformationofacommongoverningplatformamongPalestinianpoliticalparties.
Inthefaceofeconomicandsocialhardship,Palestiniansnurturenobleaspirations,asmyrepresentativeshaveagainfound.
Thelargemajoritywanttogeton,inpeace,withplansfortheirownfuture,theirchildrenandtheirstatehood.
Theseaspirationsareconstantlychallengedbytoday'sgrimprospects,whichleavelittleroomforhope.
Yethopeisvitaltocounterextremealternativesthatholdnofuture.
ThePalestinianpopulationisyoung.
Overhalfofthepersonsofworkingagearebetween15and29yearsold.
Oncompletionofsecondaryeducation,whenthisispossible,theyfacelimitedjobprospects.
Infact,overhalfofthoseinthe15–29agegroupareneitherineducationnorinemployment–awasteofprecioushumanresourcesanywherebut,inthecontextoftheoccupiedterritories,adangerousmix.
TheUnitedNationsSecretary-General,MrBanKi-moon,hasrecentlycalledfora"newmomentumtothesearchforaresolutionoftheconflictintheMiddleEast"*witharesumptionofdirectIsraeli–Palestiniannegotiationsandengagementoftheinternationalcommunity.
MassiveinternationalassistanceandextraordinaryworkbyUnitedNationsagenciesonthegroundarehelpingPalestinianstocope.
Butcopingisnotliving.
AstheILOhasoftenargued,economicandsocialprogressisaconditionfor,andaconsequenceof,politicaldevelopments.
ThesituationoftheoccupiedArabterritories,includingtheoccupiedSyrianGolan,demandsboth.
TheILOisengaged.
ThisengagementisrootedinthevaluesupheldbytheOrganizationandstronglysupportedbyitsglobalconstituency.
TheILOhasdevelopedacomprehensiveprogrammeoftechnicalcooperationaddressingtheemploymentchallengesidentifiedinthePalestinianReformandDevelopmentPlan,whichwasformallyendorsedbythePalestinianMinisterofLabourandPlanninginMay2008.
TheUnitedNationssystem,includingtheILO,hasdevelopedaPalestinianEarlyRecoveryandReconstructionPlanforGaza.
SubstantialprogresshasbeenmadetowardscoordinationwiththePalestinianAuthorityandinworkingasaOneUNcountryteam.
ThismissionhasagainhighlightedtheroleofthesocialpartnersandthesupporttheyneedandcanexpectfromtheILO.
Theircontributiontorevitalizingbatteredenterprisesandworkplacesisessentialunderanycircumstances.
Theinternationalcommunitymustbemoreforcefullyengagedtoovercomethenever-endingseriesofprivationssufferedbythePalestiniansoftheoccupiedArabterritoriesandallowthemtoexercisetheirlegitimaterighttostatehood,indignityandinpeacewithalloftheirneighbours.
May2009JuanSomaviaDirector-General*Pressconference,5May2009.
vContentsPagePreface.
iiiIntroduction.
11.
Recentdevelopmentsandthepeaceprocess.
32.
Gaza:Crushedlivelihoods.
53.
BarrierstosocialandeconomicdevelopmentintheWestBankandGaza94.
TheoccupiedSyrianGolan235.
Improvedpublicgovernanceandsocialdialogue.
246.
Conclusions27References.
31Annex.
Listofinterlocutors351Introduction1.
InaccordancewiththeresolutionconcerningtheimplicationsofIsraelisettlementsinPalestineandotheroccupiedArabterritoriesinconnectionwiththesituationofArabworkers,adoptedbytheInternationalLabourConference(ILC)atits66thSession(1980),theDirector-GeneralagainthisyearsentmissionstoIsraelandtheoccupiedArabterritories,aswellastotheSyrianArabRepublicandEgypt,inordertomakeasfullanassessmentaspossibleofthesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories(WestBank,includingEastJerusalem,GazaandtheoccupiedSyrianGolan).
12.
TheDirector-General'srepresentativeswereguidedbytheprinciplesandobjectiveslaiddownintheConstitutionoftheInternationalLabourOrganization,includingtheDeclarationofPhiladelphia,aswellastheILODeclarationonFundamentalPrinciplesandRightsatWorkandtheILODeclarationonSocialJusticeforaFairGlobalization.
TherepresentativeswerealsoguidedbytheresolutionsadoptedbytheILC,aswellastheprincipleslaiddownintherelevantinternationallabourstandardsandthoseenunciatedbythesupervisorybodiesoftheILO.
3.
Inexaminingalltheissuesinvolved,bothduringthemissionsandinthepreparationofthisReport,theDirector-General'srepresentativesboreinmind,astheyhavealwaysdone,therelevantstandardsofinternationallaw,inparticular,theHagueConventionof1907(respectingthelawsandcustomsofwaronland)andtheFourthGenevaConventionof1949(relativetotheprotectionofcivilianpersonsintimeofwar),ofwhichIsraelisaco-signatory.
TheywerealsomindfuloftheconclusionreachedbytheInternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ)inanAdvisoryOpinionof9July2004,namely,thattheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,theInternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights,andtheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,allratifiedbyIsrael,areapplicableinrespectofactsdonebyaStateintheexerciseofitsjurisdictionoutsideitsownterritory(ICJ,2004).
24.
Asinpreviousyears,themissionswerealsoguidedbytherelevantresolutionsoftheSecurityCouncilandtheGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNations,includingSecurityCouncilresolutions242(1967)and338(1973).
1TheGolanhasbeenoccupiedbyIsraelsince1967andwasunilaterallyannexedbyIsraelin1981.
Ashasbeenpointedoutinpreviousreports,thepositionoftheIsraeliGovernmentregardingtheGolanwasstatedinthefollowingterms:"TheILOmissionismeanttocollectmaterialfortheDirector-General'sReportontheoccupiedArabterritories.
ItisthepositionoftheGovernmentofIsraelthattheGolan,towhichIsraelilaw,jurisdictionandadministrationhavebeenapplied,isnotnowsuchanarea.
Inviewofthisconsideration,approvalforavisitoftheILOmissiontotheGolanwasgivenasagestureofgoodwillandwithoutprejudice.
ThedecisiontofacilitatesuchaninformalvisitshallnotserveasaprecedentanddoesnotcontravenetheIsraeliGovernment'sposition.
"On17December1981,theUnitedNationsSecurityCounciladoptedresolution497callingonIsraeltorescinditsdecisiontoannextheGolan,whichhasneverbeenrecognizedbytheUnitedNations.
2Seeparas111–113oftheAdvisoryOpinion.
TheAdvisoryOpiniondoesnotaddresstheapplicabilityofinternationallabourConventionsratifiedbyIsraelintheterritoryoccupiedsince1967.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories25.
TheDirector-GeneralentrustedFriedrichButtler,ashisSpecialRepresentative,TariqHaq,EmploymentSpecialistintheRegionalOfficefortheArabStatesinBeirut,andMartinOelz,LegalSpecialistintheInternationalLabourStandardsDepartment,withthemissiontoIsraelandtheoccupiedArabterritories,from18to25April2009.
MounirKleibo,ILORepresentativefortheWestBankandGaza,andRashaElShurafa,ProgrammeOfficerintheOfficeoftheILORepresentativeinJerusalem,undertookallthepreparationsforthemission,ofwhichtheywerefullmembers.
6.
FriedrichButtlerandNadaAl-Nashif,RegionalDirectorfortheArabStates,wereentrustedwiththemissiontotheSyrianArabRepublicon26April2009forconsultationswiththeSyrianGovernmentandwithworkers'andemployers'organizations,andtoEgypton27April2009tomeetwithrepresentativesoftheArabLabourOrganizationandtheLeagueofArabStates.
7.
Inthecourseofthemissions,theDirector-General'srepresentativesheldnumerousdiscussionsandmeetingswithIsraeli,PalestinianandSyrianinterlocutors.
TheymetwithrepresentativesofvariousministriesandinstitutionsofthePalestinianAuthorityandtheGovernmentofIsrael,workers'andemployers'organizations,non-governmentalorganizations(NGOs),researchinstitutionsandcommunityleaders.
ThemissionsalsoconsultedrepresentativesoftheUnitedNationsandotherinternationalorganizations.
3Forthefirsttimesince2006,theDirector-General'smissionwasabletovisitinterlocutorsinGaza.
8.
TheDirector-Generalismostgratefultoallthepartiesinvolved,andwishestoacknowledgethathisrepresentativesenjoyedthefullcooperationofallparties,bothArabandIsraeli,aswellasoftherepresentativesoforganizationsoftheUnitedNationssystem,inobtainingthefactualinformationonwhichthisReportisbased.
HealsoacknowledgesthefullcooperationextendedtohisrepresentativesbytheauthoritiesoftheSyrianArabRepublic,theLeagueofArabStates,theArabLabourOrganizationandtheInternationalConfederationofArabTradeUnions(ICATU).
ThewrittensubmissionsreceivedfromtheGovernmentsofIsraelandtheSyrianArabRepublic,aswellastheICATU,areacknowledgedwiththanks.
9.
ThisReporttakesaccountofinformationobtainedonthespotbythemissionsmentionedabove,aswellasthedocumentationsubmittedbythemissions'interlocutorsandotherdocumentationthatispubliclyavailable.
InexaminingthesituationofArabworkersoftheoccupiedterritories,themissionsconductedtheirworkwithimpartialityandobjectivity.
3AlistofinterlocutorsiscontainedintheannextothisReport.
31.
RecentdevelopmentsandthepeaceprocessAcripplingembargo10.
ThewarinGazabetween27December2008and18January2009wasprecededbyalongperiodofisolationofGazafollowingtheHamastakeoverinJune2007.
Atits6063rdmeeting,on8January2009,theUnitedNationsSecurityCounciladoptedresolution1860callingforanimmediateceasefire,theunimpededprovisionofhumanitarianassistance,internationaleffortstoalleviatethehumanitarianandeconomicsituationinGazaand"renewedandurgenteffortsbythepartiesandtheinternationalcommunitytoachieveacomprehensivepeacebasedonthevisionofaregionwheretwodemocraticStates,IsraelandPalestine,livesidebysideinpeacewithsecureandrecognizedborders,asenvisagedinSecurityCouncilresolution1850(2008)",andrecallingalso"theimportanceoftheArabPeaceInitiative"(UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil,2009a).
11.
MorethanthreemonthsaftertheendoftheIsraelimilitaryoperation,thetightclosureofGazacontinues,keepingthepopulationsealedoff.
Notmuchmorethanthemostbasichumanitarianaidisallowedin.
Constructionmaterials,sparepartsandotherindustrialgoodsremainalmosttotallybanned(UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil,2009b).
ReconstructionandrecoveryinGazaareaprerequisiteforrestoringlivelihoodsandcreatingaviablePalestinianState.
12.
InternationaleffortstorebuildGaza"cannotbesustainedwithoutthecrossingsbeingopened,notjustforfoodandmedicines,butformaterials,people,andcommercialtraffic",saidRobertSerry,UnitedNationsSpecialCoordinatorfortheMiddleEastPeaceProcess,aftervisitingGazaon25March2009(UNSCO,2009).
ThisstatementremainedentirelyvalidonemonthlaterwhentheILOmissionvisitedGaza.
Liftingthesiegeisaprerequisitetobuildingafuture.
People'ssenseofinjusticeisleadingtomountingdespair,andmaysoonerorlaterbreedanotherviciouscycleofviolence,themissionwastoldbyseveralinterlocutorsinGaza.
Intheirview,theinternationalcommunityhasnotyetbeensufficientlyactiveingettingthesiegelifted.
DisplacementofPalestiniansfromEastJerusalem13.
Underinternationallaw,EastJerusalemisanoccupiedterritory.
EastJerusalemwasannexedbytheStateofIsraelinJune1967.
TheinternationalcommunityhasconsistentlydenouncedIsraeliattemptstochangethestatusofthecity.
14.
Sincelastyear'sReportonthesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories,continuedactionhasbeentakenbytheGovernmentofIsraeltoreducethespaceavailabletothePalestinianpopulationinEastJerusalem,withtheaimofasignificantreductionbytheyear2020(PASSIA,2007).
TheCivicCoalitionforDefendingthePalestinians'RightsinJerusalem(CCDPRJ,2008)mentionsinthiscontextthecontrolofland,extensionofsettlements,demolitionofhouses,inclusionofcertainareasandexclusionofothersbytheconstructionoftheSeparationBarrier,onatrajectorydeviatingfromthe1949Armisticeline(theGreenLine),andchangingresidencyrightsandpermitsandhenceaccesstoeducationandtoemployment.
AmemberoftheGovernmentofIsraelconfirmedon26April2009planstoannex1,200hectaresbetweentheKeidarandMa'aleAdumimsettlements,inthevicinityofEastJerusalem(Dumont,2009).
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories4Noalternativetoatwo-Statesolution15.
ThenewIsraeliGovernmenttookofficeon31March2009.
Theinternationalcommunityhasconsistentlymaintainedthatthetwo-StatesolutionbasedontheprinciplesoftheQuartetwastheonlyalternative.
ThedeclarationoftheLeagueofArabStatesatitssummitheldinDamascuson29–30March2008recalledtheArabPeaceInitiativeasthewayforwardtoalastingpeaceintheMiddleEastregionasawhole.
AmbassadorSobeih,AssistantSecretary-GeneraloftheLeague,onceagainhighlightedtheimportanceofthisapproachatameetingwiththeILOmissionin2009.
UnitedNationsSecurityCouncilresolution1860stressed"thattheGazaStripconstitutesanintegralpartoftheterritoryoccupiedin1967andwillbeapartofthePalestinianState"(UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil,2009a)16.
WhileliftingthesiegeisthenecessaryconditionforrebuildingGaza,thepeaceprocesscouldbegreatlyfacilitatedbyintra-Palestinianreconciliation.
Somedonors,whenpledgingsupportforrebuildingGazaatthemeetingheldatSharmel-Sheikhon2March2009,madetheirdonationscontingentonprogressinsuchreconciliation,whichisalsoencouragedbyUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilresolution1860.
Internationalorganizationsprovidinghumanitarianassistanceandplanningearlyrecoverystandreadytoimplementmuch-neededprogrammesassoonasconditionspermit.
Lastingpeaceandsocialjustice17.
Thecommitmenttoajust,lastingandcomprehensivepeace,theendofoccupationandtheestablishmentofaPalestinianState,ofwhichtheGazaStripisanintegralpart,andwhichwilllivesidebysideinpeaceandsecuritywithIsrael,continuestobetheoverarchingframeworkforimprovementofthesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories.
18.
ThisyeartheILOmissionwasinformedbytherepresentativesoftheGovernmentofIsraeloftheirassessmentofthe"completelydifferentsituationinGazaandtheWestBank"andtheirreadinesstoencourageeconomicallyrelevantprojectswithapotentialforemploymentinthelatter.
ThisReport'sreviewofrecentdevelopmentsintheWestBankthoroughlyexaminestherelationshipbetweentheevolvingpoliticalandsecuritysituationintheWestBankandemploymentandeconomicoutcomes.
Itclearlyemergesthatanystrategyforlastingpeaceintheoccupiedterritoriescanonlybebasedoncombinedprogressintheeconomicsituation,thesecurityenvironmentandpoliticalnegotiations.
InaccordancewiththePreambletoitsConstitution,theILOhasalwaysmaintainedthat"universalandlastingpeacecanbeestablishedonlyifitisbaseduponsocialjustice".
52.
Gaza:CrushedlivelihoodsThewarinGazaanditsantecedents19.
The22-daywaronGazathatwaslaunchedon27December2008wastheculminationofamuchlongerprocessofisolation.
SincetheelectoralvictoryofHamasinJanuary2006,GazahasprogressivelybeencutofffromIsrael,theWestBankandtheoutsideworld.
Israel,whichcontrolsGaza'sborders,coastlineandairspace,imposedablockadeontheterritoryfollowingHamas'seffectiveseizureofcontrolofGazabyforceon15June2007andthecontinuedfiringofrocketsfromGazaintoIsraeliterritory.
20.
Withthisblockade,movementofpeopleinandoutofGazathroughtheErezcrossingtoIsraelandtheRafahcrossingtoEgyptwasessentiallystoppedsaveforexceptionalcases,includingemergencymedicalevacuations,diplomatsandsomeinternationalhumanitarianstaffand,occasionally,certainPalestinianbusinesspeople.
421.
Movementofgoodswasheavilyrestrictedtotheback-to-backimportationofbasichumanitariansuppliesthroughtheKarni,SufaandKeremShalomcrossingpoints,aswellasliquidfuels,atlevelssubstantiallylowerthantheestimatedneeds,throughNahalOzentrypoint.
Figure2.
1showstheaveragemonthlytruckloadsofgoodsimportedintoGaza.
Theinitialmonthsofthesix-monthtruce("hudna")declaredbyPalestiniangroupsfrom19Juneto19December2008witnessedatrickleofincomingcommercialgoods5but,accordingtothePalestineTradeCentre(PALTRADE)(2009),thequantitieswereonlyafractionoftheestimatedneedsand,moreover,thecategoriesandcombinationsofitemsallowedinwerenotconducivetomostindustrialoperations.
22.
CommercialbenzeneanddieselhavebeenbarredfromenteringGazasince2November2008.
However,thePalestinianGasStationsOwnersAssociation(GSOA)estimatesthatduringthesecondhalfofMarch2009,adailyaverageof100,000litresofdieseland70,000litresofbenzeneenteredthroughtunnelsundertheRafahborderwithEgypt(OCHA,2009a).
Indeed,thesmugglingtunnels,whichsupplyGazawitheverydaygoodsthatareotherwisebarredthroughtheofficialcrossings,havebecomeanimportanteconomiclifelineforthepopulationofGaza.
23.
ExportsofgoodsfromGazathroughKarni,whichnumberedroughly8,500truckloadsperyearpriortotheblockade(PALTRADE,2009),werebannedaltogether.
Notwithstandingtheban,ninetruckloadsofcutflowerswereallowedoutviatheKeremShalomcrossinginMarch2009.
24.
ItshouldbenotedthattheNovember2005AgreementonMovementandAccess(AMA)calledforadailyflowof400truckmovementsinandoutofGazabytheendof2006,aleveloftradewhichitselfwasalreadymuchlowerthanthatwitnessedbeforetheoutbreakofthesecondintifada.
Thatlevelwassubsequentlyneverreached.
4SomebusinesspeoplehavebeengrantedpermitstocrossintoIsraelthroughErezsinceJanuary2008,buttheflowhasbeenlowandirregular.
ThemovementofworkerstoIsraelviaErezhasceasedaltogethersinceApril2006.
5ThecommercialgoodsallowedintoGazaoverthisperiodincludedaggregates,cement,threetruckloadsofconstructionmetal,wood,cartyres,clothes,shoesandjuice(PALTRADE,2009).
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories6Figure2.
1.
MovementofgoodsintoGazaSource:PALTRADE,2008.
25.
Duringthemilitaryoperation,intensivebombardmentbyland,seaandairleftapproximately1,440Palestiniansdeadandanother5,380injured.
Childrenandwomenaccountedfornearlyhalf(47percent)ofallcasualties.
Atthesametime,continuousrocketandmortarfirefromPalestinianmilitantgroupswasdirectedtowardssouthernIsrael,includingbuilt-upareas.
ThisresultedinthreeIsraeliciviliandeathsand182injuries(OCHA,2009b).
26.
ThesocialandeconomicinfrastructureofGazasustainedextensivephysicaldamage.
AccordingtothePalestinianAuthority,4,036housingunitsweredestroyedandafurther11,514werepartiallydamaged,leavingtensofthousandsofdisplacedpersons.
Governmentbuildings,water,energyandcommunicationsinfrastructure,educationalestablishmentsandhospitalsallsustainedsignificantdamage.
AccordingtotheIsraeliCoordinationofGovernmentActivitiesintheTerritories(COGAT),15hospitalsand41clinicsweredamaged,while18educationalestablishmentsweredestroyed(COGAT,2009).
AccordingtothePalestinianAuthority,247schools,kindergartensanduniversitieswerealsopartiallydamaged,andschoolsarenowfacingshortagesofgeneralsafetysuppliesandlearningmaterials.
ThePrivateSectorCoordinationCouncil(PSCC)inGazastatesthat700privatesectorestablishmentswereeitherpartiallydamagedorfullydestroyed,representingnearlyUS$140millionworthoflosses.
Oftheseestablishments,77percentwereintheindustryandtradesectors,accountingfor79percentoftotallosses.
TheyincludedGaza'ssevenmaintextileproducers,itsfourmainbeveragefactoriesand61constructionmaterialsestablishments,amongmanyothers(PSCC,2009).
27.
Inaddition,thePSCCcitesextensivedestructionofGaza'sagriculturalsector,with40percentofagriculturallandsdirectlydamagedbythebombardments,andafurther20percentindirectlydamagedasaresultofinadequateirrigationduringthewar.
Ifthenecessaryinputs(fertilizers,seeds,etc.
)cannotbeimported,rehabilitationandplantingofthelandwillnotbepossible.
Preliminaryestimatesputagriculturallosses,includingthelivestock,poultryandfisheriessubsectors,atUS$170million(ibid.
).
Gaza:Crushedlivelihoods728.
ThewarinflictedafurtherdevastatingblowonthelivelihoodsofGaza'salreadybeleagueredandaid-dependentpopulation.
Theprivatesector,whichwasalreadyoperatingatminimalcapacityandthereforeprovidinglittleemploymentasaresultoftheblockade,hasbeenvirtuallywipedout,and85percentofthepopulationisnowdependentonaid,havingexhaustedmostothercopingmechanisms.
TheUnitedNationshasdescribedthesituationinGazaasa"humandignitycrisis"(OCHA,2009b).
Themission'sinterlocutorsinGazaconveyedapervasivesenseofinjusticeandconsistentlycalledforanimmediateliftingofthesiege(whichhasremainedinplaceaftertheceasefire)toallowbusinesspeople,workersandfarmerstoresumetheirdailybusiness.
Theinternationalresponse:Immediatereliefandearlyrecoveryprospects29.
Effortstoprovidereliefandsupporttoearlyrecoveryandreconstructionarecomplicatedbytheongoingblockade,whichhasevenextendedtothemovementofcashintoGaza.
Inaddition,IsraelibankshaverecentlyseveredcorrespondentandclearancerelationshipswithGazabanks,andthereisariskthattheirrelationswithPalestinianbanksintheWestBankwillbecutofaswell(IMF,2009).
ThesecombinedmeasuresnotonlyhindertheabilityofthePalestinianAuthorityandtheinternationalcommunitytooperate,buthavealsoresultedinaliquiditycrisisinGazaandthediversionofscarceresourcesawayfromthebankingsystemtowardsunregulatedinformalchannels.
Agrowingblackmarketofsmuggledcash(viathetunnelsundertheRafahborderwithEgypt)risksunderminingtheprudentialframeworkofthePalestineMonetaryAuthorityanditsstrictregulationsagainstmoney-launderingandterroristactivities.
30.
Nonetheless,aconcertedeffortisbeingmadetoprepareforrecovery.
Assoonastheunilateralceasefirestookplace,theUnitedNationsestablishedanearlyrecoveryclustermechanism,consistingofanumberofclusters,sectorsandworkinggroups,andlaunchedaUS$613millionflashappealforprojectstomeetimmediatehumanitarianneedsforninemonths.
ThePalestinianAuthorityministriesandUnitedNationsagencies,incooperationwithlocalandinternationalpartners,conductedaGazaEarlyRecoveryRapidNeedsAssessment,underpinningearlyrecoveryprojectsandmedium-tolonger-termreconstructioninterventions.
ThisresultedinthePalestinianNationalEarlyRecoveryandReconstructionPlanforGaza,2009–10,whichwaspresentedtotheinternationalcommunitybyPrimeMinisterSalamFayyadattheInternationalConferenceinSupportofthePalestinianEconomyfortheReconstructionofGaza,heldinSharmel-Sheikh,Egypt,on2March2009.
ThePlanisintendedtocomplementthePalestinianAuthority's"existingeffortstoalleviatepovertythroughincreasingemploymentandrevitalizingtheeconomy"(PalestinianNationalAuthority,2009),pursuedthroughthePalestinianReformandDevelopmentPlan(PRDP).
31.
TheEarlyRecoveryPlantackles,interalia,interventionsinthesocialsectorforhealthandeducation,particularlyforvulnerablegroups;repairofbasicinfrastructure;addressingdamagetonaturalresourcesandtheenvironment;andeconomicsupporttoagricultureandindustry,includingthroughtheprivatesector.
UnderthePlan,short-termemploymentcreationeffortsmustinthemediumtolongtermbesupportedby"policiesthatfocusoninvestinginpeoplethrougheducationandtrainingtodevelopahighlyskilledworkforce,investingininfrastructuretoeasetheconductofcommerce,anddevelopingabusinessclimatethatencouragesinvestmentandfosterstheprivatesector'sabilitytocompete"(ibid.
).
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories832.
ThePlansoughtsupportofjustoverUS$1.
3billionforearlyrecoveryandreconstructionactivities,inadditiontoUS$1.
45billionindirectbudgetsupport.
AtotalofUS$4.
48billioninaidwaspledgedattheConferencefortheGazareconstructioneffort.
However,disbursementofthebulkofthisamountislinkedtoprogressontheIsraeli–Palestinianpeaceprocess,whichisinturncontingentontheoutcomeofintra-PalestinianreconciliationtalksandtheasyetundefinedagendaofthenewIsraeliGovernment.
Moreover,withoutasignificantbreakthroughontheissueofaccessandliftingtheblockade,nomeaningfulreconstructioncantakeplace.
Copingstrategiesofworkers'andemployers'organizations33.
Asreportedin2008,thePalestineGeneralFederationofTradeUnions(PGFTU)experiencedseriousinterferenceinitsactivitiesinGaza,includingseizureofitsofficesandproperty,onthepartofHamas(ILO,2008a).
Morerecently,thePGFTUhasbeenabletoreopenasmallofficeandtoruncertainactivities,mainlyworkers'education.
However,itisstillbeingpreventedfromcollectingmembershipfeesanditsoverallcapacityremainsweak.
InternationalsupporttothePGFTUinGazawouldbecrucialtoensuringthatthedemocratictradeunionmovementcanplayitsroleindefendingworkers'rightsandinterestsintheprevailingdifficultcircumstances,and,hopefully,inthecontextofreconstruction.
34.
Representativesofemployers'organizationshaveactivelytakenpartinthedamageassessmentfollowingthewarinGazaandinthedevelopmentofplansandprojectsforreconstructionandearlyrecovery.
Gaza'semployersareeagerandwillingtoplaytheirroleinjump-startingtheeconomy,butincreasinglyfrustratedatthecontinuingembargo,lackofaccesstoloansandtheprogressinglossofskillsintheGazalabourforce.
93.
BarrierstosocialandeconomicdevelopmentintheWestBankandGazaAccessandmovement35.
MovementofpeopleandgoodsinandbetweentheWestBankandGazaremainsheavilyconstrainedbyapervasivesystemofmulti-layeredrestrictions.
WithintheWestBank,theserestrictionsincludeobstacles(or"closures")intheformofcheckpoints,roadblocks,metalgates,earthmoundsandwalls,roadbarriersandtrenches,inadditiontotheSeparationBarrier,whichisbeingconstructedpredominantlyeastoftheGreenLineinsidetheWestBank.
Asdescribedintheprecedingparagraphs,Gazaiseffectivelysealedofffromtherestoftheworld.
Physicalbarriersarefurtherreinforcedbyintricateadministrativeprocedures,includingahighlyrestrictivepermitrequirementsystem.
36.
TheGovernmentofIsraeldeclaresthatitsregimeofclosuresandrestrictionsonmovementisnecessarytoprotectIsraelicitizensfromPalestinianmilitantattacks,butthesystemiswidelybelievedbyPalestiniansandhumanrightsorganizationstobebothdisproportionatetothethreatposedandtantamounttocollectivepunishment.
Indeed,asthePalestinianAuthorityhasextendeditssecuritycontrolinAreaAsegmentsoftheWestBank6overthepastyear,thesecuritysituationhasmarkedlyimprovedandviolencehasfallentoitslowestlevelinyears(WorldBank,2009),yetclosuresandcontrolofPalestinianmovementremaininfullforce,whileillegalIsraelisettlementactivityintheWestBankisprotected.
37.
Table3.
1showsclosuremeasuresbyWestBankgovernorateatvariousintervalssinceDecember2007,indicatingthesizeofthelabourforcepresentandhenceconstrainedbythesemeasuresineachgovernorate.
Thetotalnumberofclosuresincreasedfrom558inDecember2007toreach630bySeptember2008,notincludingtemporary("flying")checkpoints.
Moreover,thisnumberrepresentsa59percentincreaseoverthe396closuresthatwereinplaceatthetimeofthesigningoftheAgreementonMovementandAccessinNovember2005(OCHA,2009d).
Table3.
1.
Internalclosuremeasures(physicalobstacles)andestimatedworkforcebyWestBankgovernorateNo.
ofclosuremeasuresin:BethlehemHebronJeninJerichoJerusalemNablusQalqilyaRamallahSalfitTubasTulkaremTotalDecember2007301911711401022082331022558April2008332271611361042381361129607September2008322022114411282097361326630Labourforce(2008,Q4)487001332006430012500115300792002180063000159001090039200604000Sources:OCHA,2007–08;labourforcedatafromPCBS,2009a.
6AsdeterminedintheOsloAccords.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories1038.
ThegovernorateofHebroninthesouthernWestBankcontainedover200physicalobstaclestomovement–bythefarlargestnumberofallthegovernorates.
ThemissionwasinformedbytheHebronChamberofIndustrythattheabilityofmanufacturerstoobtainrawmaterialsandtransporttheirgoodsisgreatlyimpeded.
Inaddition,theoldcityofHebron(H2zone)7containedafurther76checkpointsandobstaclesthatarenotincludedintheabovecount,resultingintheeffectiveshuttingdownofaoncethrivingmarketplace.
39.
InNablus,agovernoratethathasalsosufferedfromextensiveclosuressincetheonsetofthesecondintifada,asignificantimprovementinthesecuritysituationhasledtoaslighteasingofmovementrestrictionstowardstheendof2008andinearly2009.
ThecriticalBeitIbacheckpointwasmovedafewkilometrestothenorthwest,allowingfreermovementbetweenNablusandJenin.
However,thenewlocationeffectivelycreatesanewobstacleforJeninresidentsontheirwaytoTulkaremandsouthernareas,andmayfurtheraffectNablusresidentstravellingwest,owingtocongestion,asthenewcheckpointcontrolsalargerpopulation(OCHA,2009a).
40.
Otherbarrierremovalsandreconfigurations,aswellasanimprovementintheoperatinghoursofseveralcheckpoints,havebeennotedinrecentmonths(OCHA,2009a;WorldBank,2009).
Inaddition,theGovernmentofIsraelhasallocatedresourcesto"upgrading"checkpointsandotherbarriers.
AccordingtoCOGAT(2009),theIsraeliMinistryofDefenseallocated8.
5millionnewIsraelishekels(NIS)in2008toupgradingvariouscheckpoints,crossingsandpassages"inordertoimprovetheflowofmovementandthequalityoflifeofPalestiniansthatmusttravelthroughthedifferentregions".
Whileimprovementsinmovementandaccessaretobeencouraged,heavyinvestmentintheinfrastructureofclosureislikelytoserveonlytoentrenchitinthelongerrun,andcannotbeseenasaviablealternativetoremovingthebarriers.
41.
RestrictionsonfreedomofmovementseparatePalestiniancommunitiesandimpedeaccesstoland,enterprisesandplacesofwork,aswellasbasicsocialservices,whileincreasingPalestiniandependencyonaidinthecontextofdeterioratingsocio-economicconditions.
Figure3.
1showsaclearinverserelationshipbetweenclosuresandPalestiniangrossdomesticproduct(GDP)percapita,inwhichanincreaseinWestBankclosuremeasuresiscorrelatedwithadeclineinpercapitaoutput.
Internationalagencies,includingtheUnitedNations,havelongidentifiedrestrictionsonmovementandaccessasoneofthebiggestimpedimentstoeconomicgrowthanddevelopmentintheWestBankandGaza,andhaverepeatedlycalledonIsraeltoliftthem.
7ThespecialHebronProtocolsignedbetweenIsraelandthePalestinianAuthorityon17January1997createdaseparatezone,H2,coveringroughly20percentofHebroncity,forwhichthePalestinianAuthoritywouldprovideadministrativeservices,butIsraelwouldretainfullsecuritycontrol.
Anestimated400Israelisettlersresideinthisarea,inthemidstof35,000Palestinians(androughly170,000PalestiniansinHebronCityasawhole).
Thesesettlersareprotectedby1,500IsraelDefenseForces(IDF)troops.
BarrierstosocialandeconomicdevelopmentintheWestBankandGaza11Figure3.
1.
PalestinianGDPpercapitaandWestBankclosuresSources:OCHA,2007–08;GDPdatafromPCBS,2009b.
TheSeparationBarrier42.
ThecurrentprojectedrouteoftheWestBankSeparationBarrierextends725km,57percentofwhichhadbeenconstructedbySeptember2008(OCHA,2009d).
TheAdvisoryOpinionoftheICJdeliveredon9July2004ontheBarriercalledforanimmediatecessationandreversalofconstructionactivityandreparationsforalldamagecaused(ICJ,2004).
ThiswassupportedbyasubsequentUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyresolution(UnitedNations,2004).
43.
AccordingtoOCHA,86percentoftheBarrier'srouteliesinsidetheWestBank(OCHA,2008a).
OncetheBarrieriscomplete,approximately9.
8percentofWestBankland,includingmuchofitsfertilefarmlandandwaterresources,aswellasEastJerusalem,willfallinthe"seamzone",betweentheBarrierandtheGreenLine,andwillhencebeisolatedfromtherestoftheWestBank.
Over80percentofIsraelisettlerswillbeincorporatedinthesamearea,andthuswillbeconnectedtoIsrael.
Anestimated125,000PalestinianswillbesurroundedonthreesidesbytheBarrier,andafurther35,000willliveinclosedareas.
44.
AllPalestiniansaged16andabovewholiveinsidetheseamzonerequire"long-term"or"permanentresident"permitstocontinueresidingintheirownhomes,whilefarmerslivingtotheeastoftheBarrierrequire"visitor"permitsforaccesstoseamzonelandsthroughdesignatedgates.
Thesepermitsaredifficulttoobtainanddonotmeetworkforceneeds.
OCHA(ibid.
)reportsthat,inthenorthernWestBank,80percentoffarmerswhousedtoworkthelandintheseamzonenolongerreceivepermitstocrosstheBarrier.
TheBarriergatesoperateonadaily,seasonalorseasonal-weeklybasis,tendtobeopenforshorthoursandcanbeclosedwithoutpriorwarningbytheIDF.
Novehiclesareallowedthroughthegatesandthereareheavyrestrictionsonwhatagriculturalequipmentandmaterials(suchasimplementsandfertilizer)canbetakenacross.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories1245.
AsreportedbytheILOmissionin2008(ILO,2008a),12crossingpointshavebeenbuiltintotheBarrierformovementofgoodsandpeople,onlyfiveofwhichlieontheGreenLine.
Ofthese,11allowPalestinianworkerswithpermitstocrossandfiveareback-to-backtruckingplatformsfortransportationofgoodsintoandoutoftheWestBank.
COGAT(2009)reportsincreasesinthemovementofpeopleandgoodsthroughnearlyallcrossingsinthefirstquarterof2009,comparedtothesameperiodin2008.
However,observerssuchasPALTRADEandrepresentativesofthePalestinianprivatesectorcontinuetoquestiontheefficacyofthecommercialcrossings,citingarangeofhightransactioncosts,includingtheinconvenienceandcostofhavingtopalletizegoodsaccordingtostrictlimitations,inadditiontolengthywaiting,inspectionandtransfertimesassociatedwiththeback-to-backsystem.
Transportationcostshavealsorisensubstantially.
8Inaddition,thereisahigherriskofdamagetogoods,especiallyagriculturalproduce,whichneedstomovequicklytomaintainvalue.
Quotasandpermits46.
Theopaqueandrestrictiveregimeofpermits,whichcontrolsmovementofmostPalestiniansbeyondtheirmunicipalboundaries,remainsinplace.
Therearenumerouscategoriesofpermits,andrestrictionsandregulationschangefrequentlyandwithoutnotice.
AworkpermitandquotasystemcontrolsPalestinianaccesstoIsraelilabourmarketsacrosstheWestBankSeparationBarrieraswellastoIsraelisettlementsonbothsides.
Securityclearanceismandatory,andpossessionofamagneticIDcardappearstobeanewprerequisiteforreceivingapermittocrosstheBarrier.
Asin2008,themissionheardworryingreportsoftheIsraeliauthoritiesattemptingtorecruitcollaboratorsinexchangeforissuingorrenewingaworkpermit.
PermitsforworkersfromGazatoenterIsraelhaveceasedtobeissuedsinceApril2006.
47.
Astable3.
2indicates,thefullquotaofpermitsisnotusuallygranted.
Moreover,receiptofapermit,whichisvalidforthreemonthsatatime,isnoguaranteeofactuallybeingabletoreachwork,asIDF-imposedcurfewsand/oradhocclosureofcrossingsmaypreventaccess.
Table3.
2.
QuotasandpermitsforPalestinianstoworkinIsraelandthesettlementsQuotaPermitsissuedIsraelJerusalemSettlementsTotalApril2005380351790517871613535827March2006377712009624141337135881March2007455101887327701841040053March2008470622028030362116244478April2009491132261031042206347777Source:COGATpresentations(various).
48.
ThequotaandnumberofpermitsissuedtoPalestinianworkerstoaccessIsraelilabourmarketshavecontinuedtoincreasein2008–09,sothatapproximately12,000morepermitswereissuedinApril2009thaninApril2005.
AsimilarnumberofpermitswereissuedforworkinIsraelandforthesettlements.
Despitethefactthatall8WhileIsraeliintermediariesnowsendtheirtrucksshorterdistances(i.
e.
onlyasfarastheterminals),theirchargestoPalestinianbusinesseshaveremainedthesame.
PalestiniantruckshavetotravellongerdistancesandcrossamultitudeofinternalWestBankcheckpointsandobstacles;theircostshavethusrisensubstantially.
BarrierstosocialandeconomicdevelopmentintheWestBankandGaza13settlementsinoccupiedterritoryareillegalunderinternationallawandareamajorobstacletopeace,manyPalestinianshavenootherincome-earningopportunities.
ThePCBSestimatesthatactualPalestinianlabourflowstoIsraelandthesettlementsnumberedalmost75,000in2008(PCBS,2009c),implyingthatapproximately27,000Palestiniansworkedwithoutapermit.
WhentheWestBankSeparationBarrieriscompleted,thisnumberisexpectedtofallsubstantially,asfarfewerpeoplewouldmanagetocrosswithoutapermit.
Toprotectthelivelihoodsoftheseworkersandtheirfamilies,eitherappreciablylargernumbersofpermitswouldneedtobegranted,orasizeablegrowthintheabsorptivecapacityofthePalestinianeconomywouldhavetobepermitted.
Continuedsettlementexpansiondespiteinternationalcommitments49.
TheILOmissionobservedcontinuedexpansionofIsraelisettlementsintheWestBank,includingEastJerusalem.
ThepresenceofincreasingnumbersofIsraelisettlersdirectlyharmsthelivelihoodofPalestinians,whoarebarredfromaccesstolandandotherresources(notablywater),andfrombuildinghousingandeconomicinfrastructure(notablyenterprises),andentailssevererestrictionsonthemovementofpersonsandgoods.
Thus,theconcernsexpressedbytheInternationalLabourConferencein1980overtheeffectsoftheIsraelisettlementpolicyonPalestiniansocialandeconomicrightsandinterestshavebynomeanslosttheirvalidity.
50.
Internationalhumanitarianlaw,theHagueConventionandtheFourthGenevaConventionprohibitthetransferofpopulationtoanoccupiedterritory.
TheUnitedNationsandtheinternationalcommunityhaverepeatedlycalledontheGovernmentofIsraeltoceasesettlementintheterritoryoccupiedsince1967.
In2001theMitchellReport(Sharmel-SheikhFact-FindingCommittee,2001)calledontheGovernmentofIsraelto"freezeallsettlementactivity,includingthe'naturalgrowth'ofexistingsettlements".
In2003,theperformance-basedRoadMaprepeatedthisrequest(UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil,2003).
IntheJointUnderstandingreachedatAnnapolis(AnnapolisConference,2007),thepartiescommittedthemselvestotheimmediateimplementationoftheirrespectiveobligationsundertheRoadMap.
51.
On20February2009theCounciloftheEuropeanUnion,inaDeclarationonthesettlementactivitiesofIsrael,statedthat:"SettlementactivityisamajorobstacletopeaceintheMiddleEastandtotheeffortsoftheinternationalcommunitytoadvancetheMiddleEastPeaceProcess.
AstheEuropeanUnionhasconsistentlymadeclear,therecanbenosustainablepeaceintheMiddleEastwithoutthecreationofaviablePalestinianstate.
Continuedsettlementactivityseverelydamagesthisprospect"(CounciloftheEuropeanUnion,2009).
52.
Therealityhasbeendifferent.
In2009theILOmissionagainfoundevidenceofstronggrowthofsettlements–inpopulation,inbuildingsandinarea.
ThecontinuedexpansionofsettlementactivitydirectlyjeopardizestherightsandlivelihoodsofthePalestinianpopulationlivingunderoccupation.
Settler-onlyroads,restrictedaccesstofarmland,confiscationoflandandmobilityrestrictionsareimposedbytheoccupyingforcesinordertoenablesettlementactivitytocontinue.
53.
TheIsraelisettlerpopulationin"Jewishlocalities"intheWestBank(excludingEastJerusalem),reached276,100personsinDecember2007,accordingtotheCentralBureauofStatistics(CBS)ofIsrael–anincreaseof14,500personsor5.
5percentover2006,threetimeshigherthanthegrowthofthetotalIsraelipopulationat1.
8percentThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories14(CBS,2008).
EvenaccountingforhigherfertilityamongtheIsraelipopulationlivinginsettlementsintheWestBank,thedifferenceinthegrowthratesindicatessubstantialtransfersofpopulationfromIsraelintooccupiedterritory,whichareprohibitedbyinternationalhumanitarianlaw.
54.
Suchtransfersareencouragedbythecontinuedbuildinginsettlements,theexpansionofexistingsettlementsandtheestablishmentofnewsettlements,aswellasvarioussubsidiesandincentives.
AccordingtotheIsraeliCBS,thenumberofdwellingsbuilt"inJewishlocalities"intheWestBankwas2,020in2008,806in2007and1,165in2006(CBS,2009).
Inotherwords,2.
5timesmoreunitswerebuiltin2008thanin2007.
55.
TheIsraeliInformationCenterforHumanRightsintheOccupiedTerritories(B'Tselem)hasdocumented"specialsecurityareas"around12settlements,enlargingtheirarea2.
4times.
ThishasledtofurtherconfiscationofprivatePalestinianlandandbarredPalestiniansfromaccessingtheirproperty.
Thereportnotesthat:"SurroundingsettlementswitharingoflandthatprohibitsorrestrictsPalestiniansfromentering,whetherbydeclaringtheland[aspecialsecurityarea]ornot,isoneofthemanypracticesusedforstealingland"(B'Tselem,2008).
56.
IsraelisettlersintheWestBankcompetedirectlyforresourceswiththePalestinianpopulation.
Suchcompetitioncantakeviolentforms.
ManyobservershavenotedanincreaseintheincidenceofviolencecommittedbysettlersagainstthePalestinianpopulationinrecentmonths(box3.
1).
Box3.
1SettlerviolenceanditsimpactonPalestinianlivelihoodsInDecember2008,OCHAreportedaworryingtrendofincreasingnumbersofsuchincidents(290suchincidentsduringthefirsttenmonthsof2008,comparedto182and243in2006and2007,respectively).
OCHAconsiders"Israel'sdecades-longpolicyoffacilitatingandencouragingthesettlingofitscitizensinsideoccupiedPalestinianterritory"asarootcauseofthisphenomenon.
SettlerviolencediscouragesandeffectivelypreventsPalestiniansfromaccessingandworkingontheirlands,particularlyinthevicinityoftheillegalIsraelisettlementsintheWestBank.
Settlerviolenceintheformofpropertyandlanddamageregularlyincreasesinperiodsofintensiveagriculturalactivity,suchastheoliveharvest.
PalestinianlivelihoodsarehitespeciallyhardbyattacksonPalestinianfarmersandherders,thetheftorkillingoflivestockandthedestructionofcrops,treesorotheragriculturalproperty.
ThefailureoftheIsraeliauthoritiestoputanendtosettlerviolencetargetingPalestiniansandtheirpropertyisamatterofparticularconcern.
DespiterepeatedUnitedNationsdemandsonIsraeltotakeseriousmeasurestopreventsettlerviolence,Israelhasfailedsofartoaddresstheissueeffectively.
Violenceaffectswomen,menandchildrenonboththePalestinianandIsraelisides.
Between2006and2008,OCHAregisteredmoreIsraelisettlerskilledbyPalestiniansthanviceversa,whereasthenumberofPalestiniansinjuredbyIsraeliswasmorethandoublethatofIsraelisinjuredbyPalestinians.
Sources:OCHA,2008b;andB'Tselem,2008.
57.
ThedeclineinlivelihoodsofPalestinians,recordedindecreasingincomesandeconomicactivity,istoalargeextenttheresultofthecontinuedclosuresandtheassociatedrestrictionsandprohibitionsimposedontheeconomicfreedomsofPalestinians.
58.
ItshouldbeborneinmindthattheIsraeliandPalestinianeconomiesaredifferent,withaverageincomesintheformer20timeshigherthaninthelatter.
BarrierstosocialandeconomicdevelopmentintheWestBankandGaza15Palestinianwomen,menandchildrenworkinginIsraelisettlements59.
ThousandsofPalestinianwomen,menandchildrenworkinsettlementsestablishedbyIsraelintheWestBank,mostlyinindustryandagriculture.
ThemissiondiscussedthismatterwiththePGFTU,whichestimatesthatsome26,000Palestinianworkersareemployedinsevenmajorsettlementsandindustrialzonesalone.
960.
ThemissionobtainedcredibleandsubstantiatedinformationindicatingthatmanyofthePalestinianworkersinIsraelisettlementsandindustrialzonesareexposedtohazardousworkenvironmentswithoutappropriateoccupationalsafetyandhealthmeasuresinplace.
TheNGOKavLaOved–Worker'sHotlinehasconductedexploratorysurveysofPalestinianworkersemployedinsettlements,whichindicatetheexistenceofseriousprotectiongaps.
61.
ChildlabourinIsraelisettlementsremainsamatterofgreatconcern,particularlyinagriculture.
ThemissionobservednumerouschildrenworkinginthefieldsoftheJordanValley.
SimoneKorkus,alawyerandjournalistwhorecentlydocumentedchildlabourinthesamearea,estimatesthenumberofchildlabourersinIsraelisettlementsat1,900(Korkus,2008).
Manyofthesechildrenperformdangerouswork,forinstanceondateplantations.
62.
WorkinginsettlementsmaybetheonlyoptionforPalestinianmenandwomentosecurelivelihoodsforthemselvesandtheirfamilies.
However,dependenceonemployersandsubcontractorsmakestheseworkersvulnerabletoexploitationandviolationsoflabourrights.
ClaiminglabourrightsinIsraelicourtsiscostlyandcomplicated,andcomplainingworkersarereportedlyfrequentlylaidoff.
63.
Inanycase,thepossibilityofindividualworkersgoingtocourtdoesnotresolvethematter.
Underinternationalhumanitarianandhumanrightslaw,itistheresponsibilityoftheIsraeliauthoritiestoensurethewell-beingandsafetyofPalestinianmenandwomenworkinginIsraelisettlementsandindustrialzonesandtoprotectfundamentalhumanrights,includingtherighttosafeandhealthyworkingconditions.
TheeliminationofchildlabourisoneofthefundamentalprinciplesandrightswhichallILOmemberStatesmustrespectandrealize.
64.
Unfortunately,themissionwasunabletoobtainanyspecificinformationfromtheIsraeliMinistryofIndustry,TradeandLabouronanyinspectionscarriedoutinundertakingslocatedinIsraelisettlementsorindustrialzonesintheWestBank,orontheresultsofsuchinspections.
Themissionhopesthatsuchinformationwillbemadeavailableinthefuture.
DismantlingthePalestiniansocialfabricinEastJerusalem65.
FollowingtheoccupationoftheWestBankin1967,Israelunilaterallyannexed70.
5km2oftheoccupiedterritory.
Thisarea,knownasEastJerusalem,wassubsequentlyincludedwithintheJerusalemmunicipality.
TheannexationhasneverbeenrecognizedbytheUnitedNations,whichhascalledonIsraeltocomplywithitsobligationunderinternationallawnottoalterthecharacter,statusanddemographic9Burkan(Salfit),BurkanB,Tulkarem,Ma'aleEfraim,Khanal-Ahmar,EtzionandMa'aleAdumim.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories16compositionofEastJerusalem,andtostopallsettlementactivities(UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil,1968,andUnitedNations,2008).
66.
WhendiscussingthesituationinEastJerusalem,manyofthemission'sinterlocutorsconveyedthemessagethatcontinuingandintensifyingIsraeliactiontocreate"factsontheground"hasresultedinheightenedtensionsandpotentialforviolence.
Palestinianworkersandemployers,andtheirfamilies,continuetobenegativelyaffectedbymeasuresandpoliciesimplementedbytheIsraeliauthoritiesinandaroundEastJerusalem,withthestatedobjectiveofdecreasingtheproportionofthePalestinianpopulationinthecityandprovidinginfrastructureandsecuritytotheexpandingsettlementsinEastJerusalem,inviolationofinternationallaw.
In2005,thepopulationofEastJerusalemincluded241,000Arabsand187,000Jews(JerusalemInstituteforIsraelStudies,2008).
DecreasinglandbaseforPalestiniandevelopment67.
LandconfiscationsandurbanplanningmeasurescarriedoutbytheIsraeliauthoritiesinEastJerusalemhaveleftlittleroomforPalestiniansocialandeconomicdevelopment.
Some35percentofthelandinEastJerusalemhasbeenconfiscatedforIsraelisettlements,whereanestimated195,000Israelisettlersnowlive(OCHA,2009e).
Landalsocontinuestobeconfiscatedforpublicparksandtransportationsystems.
InNovember2008,theLegalCenterforArabMinorityRightsinIsrael(Adalah)andtheCivicCoalitionforDefendingthePalestinians'RightsinJerusalemsubmittedaformalobjectiontotheJerusalemRegionalMasterPlan.
TheorganizationsarguethattheMasterPlanwouldfurtherseparatePalestinianneighbourhoodsfromeachotherandnewlydesignatelargepartsoflandforroadsandrailroadsservingIsraelisettlements,whilefurtherrestrictingdevelopmentpossibilitiesforPalestinians(Adalah,2008).
68.
Only13percentofEastJerusalemisavailableforconstructionbyPalestiniansunderthezoningplansdrawnupbytheIsraeliauthorities(OCHA,2009e).
However,muchofthislandisalreadybuiltuporlacksthepublicinfrastructure(suchaswater,sewerageandroads)withoutwhichconstructionpermitscannotbeobtained.
Generally,thenumberofbuildingpermitsgrantedbytheIsraeliauthoritiesforconstructioninEastJerusalemandotherpartsoftheWestBankremainsfarbelowtheactualneedsofthePalestinianpopulation.
69.
RecentmonthshavewitnessedanaccelerationofdemolitionofhousesandotherbuildingsinPalestinianneighbourhoodsofoccupiedEastJerusalem.
In2008alone,nearly90housesweredemolishedinEastJerusalem(table3.
3),inadditiontonumerousothersinAreaCzonesintheWestBank.
Inthefirstquarterof2009,another19PalestinianstructuresinEastJerusalem(including11inhabitedresidentialstructures)weredestroyed.
WhiletheIsraeliauthoritiesstatethatthiswasbecausethestructuresconcernedhadbeenbuiltwithoutauthorization,thewiderangeofzoning-relatedregulationsandhighfeestheyimposemakeitnotoriouslydifficultforPalestinianstoobtainbuildingpermitsintheseareas.
VariousUNbodiesandorganshavecalledforanimmediateendtohousedemolitions.
Mostrecently,RobertSerry,UNSpecialCoordinatorfortheMiddleEastPeaceProcess,warnedthatdemolitionswerefuellingtensionsatatimewhen"theinternationalcommunityistryingtorelauncharesults-orientedpeaceprocess"(Kershner,2009).
Apartfromthetraumaandsufferinginflictedontheaffectedfamilies,theyareeffectivelydisplacedfromthecity,asitisunlikelythattheywillbeabletoobtainpermitstobuildnewhouses.
AccordingtoanOCHAestimate,asmanyas60,000PalestiniansinEastJerusalemareexposedtotheriskofhousedemolition(OCHA,2009e).
BarrierstosocialandeconomicdevelopmentintheWestBankandGaza17Table3.
3.
Demolitionofhouses,byreasongivenEastJerusalemWestBankHousesbuiltwithoutpermitAllegedmilitarypurposes20065044392007653930200889291011Datauntil30June2008only.
Source:B'Tselem,atwww.
btselem.
org.
Pressureonresidencyrights70.
Followingtheannexation,IsraelhasprovidedPalestiniansinEastJerusalemwith"permanentresidencystatus".
ResidencystatusisthebasisunderIsraelilawforlawfullyresidinginEastJerusalemandisthuscrucialforengagingineconomicactivitiesthere.
HoldingaJerusalemIDcardfacilitatesmovementbetweenoccupiedEastJerusalemandotherpartsoftheWestBankforworkorbusiness-relatedreasons,10andbringssocialsecuritycoveragewithit.
71.
PalestinianJerusalemiteshavetheirresidencystatusrevokedbytheIsraeliauthoritiesiftheycannotprovethattheir"centreoflife"iswithinthecity,andiftheyresideabroadforlongerthansevenyears.
Underthispolicy,thousandsofPalestinianmenandwomenwhomovedfromEastJerusalemtoneighbourhoodsoutsidethemunicipalityborderasdefinedbytheIsraeliauthorities,usuallybecauseoflackofhousing,areunderconstantthreatofhavingtheirJerusalemIDsconfiscated.
CompoundedeffectsoftheSeparationBarrier72.
TheSeparationBarrierhaseffectivelycutoffJerusalemfromtheWestBank.
WhiletheBarrierhasalreadybeenconstructedaroundmuchofEastJerusalem,dividingPalestinianneighbourhoods,anasyetincompleteprojectedsegmentwouldalsocut14kmintotheWestBanktoencompasstheMa'aleAdumimsettlementandthe"E-1corridor"linkingitwithJerusalem.
73.
Thecity'sfinancialandcommerciallinkstotherestofthePalestinianeconomyhavebeengreatlyreduced.
AllPalestiniannon-JerusalemIDholdersrequireapermittoenterthecity,andtheentryofPalestiniangoodsintothecityisnowheavilyrestricted.
FourcrossingsintheBarrieraroundJerusalemallowPalestinianswithpermitstoenterthecityforwork,medicalcare,educationorreligiousreasons.
Afearvoicedbymanyofthemission'sinterlocutorsisthatPalestinianslivingwithinthemunicipalityborderbutexcludedfromthecitybytheSeparationBarriermayseetheirJerusalemresidencystatusrevokedinthefuture.
Consequently,manyJerusalemIDholderswhoseresidencesfallontheWestBanksideoftheBarrierhaverelocatedtotheothersideinordertoensuretheyretaintheirJerusalemresidencystatus.
ThishasresultedinovercrowdinginArabneighbourhoods,withoutaconcurrentincreaseinincomeearningopportunitiesandhousing.
YoungPalestinianJerusalemitesarediscouragedfromtravellingabroadtostudyorgainworkexperience.
10Bycontrast,PalestiniansresidinginotherpartsoftheWestBankrequirespecificpermitstoenterEastJerusalem.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories18Box3.
2PGFTUMayDayOn1May2009,apeacefulmarchinAl-Ma-saranearBethlehemtoprotestagainsttheSeparationBarrierwasattendedbysome250workers,tradeunionistsandcommunitymembers.
Attheevent,PGFTUSecretary-GeneralShaherSaedstatedthat:"OnthishistoricdayofMay1st,workersinPalestinecontinuetosufferfromtheIsraelioccupation.
TheoccupationandseparationwallhavedestroyedthePalestinianeconomy.
The600checkpointsandbarriersintheWestBankcontinuetostrangletheeconomyandworkers'abilitytosupporttheirfamilies…HowcanworkershavejusticeinthisclimateWeneedcomprehensivepeacethatendstheseparationwall,thecheckpoints,andtheoccupation.
"ThepeacefuleventwasdisruptedbytheIsraeliarmy.
Source:PGFTU,2009.
LabourmarketandsocialoutcomesandprospectsStagnationofthePalestinianeconomyanddecliningemployment74.
Economicactivityshowedaverymoderateincreasein2008,approximately2percentover2007,followingcloseto5percentgrowthin2007over2006(figure3.
2).
However,withthepopulationgrowingat2.
7percentperyear,averageincomedippedslightlyin2008(-0.
6percent).
ThelevelofGDPpercapita,atUS$1,290in2008(PCBS,2009d),isstillsome28percentlowerthanthepeakof1999.
Inotherwords,overthelastdecadethePalestinianeconomyhasremainedwellbelowthepeakof1999.
ThegrowingPalestinianpopulationhasthusbeenlivinginastagnanteconomy,withmanymorepersonsinpovertythantenyearsago.
Theproximatecauseofthisdismaleconomicsituationremainsthemilitaryoccupationandthemanifoldlimitationsimposedonmovementsofpersonsandofgoods.
Figure3.
2.
GDPandGDPpercapitaSource:PCBSpreliminarynationalaccountsdata,2008(PCBS,2009d).
BarrierstosocialandeconomicdevelopmentintheWestBankandGaza1975.
AlthoughdataavailablefromthePCBSdonotpermitadefiniteconclusion,withthetotalblockadeimposedonGaza,itismorethanlikelythatthemodestgrowthregisteredin2008isentirelyduetoeconomicactivityintheWestBankhavingbenefitedfromarelativeimprovementinsecurity.
76.
Takingalookatthesourcesofthismodestgrowth,theeconomicscarsofoccupationbecomeapparent.
Thesharesofagriculture,manufacturingandconstructionintotalGDPhavebeendecliningyearafteryear,whilethatofserviceshasbeenrising.
Thesharesofagricultureandconstructionhavefallenbymorethanhalf(4.
6and4.
9percentin2008comparedto10.
4and13.
7percentin1999),whilemanufacturingdippedbycloseto1percentcomparedtoitssharein1999.
Bycontrast,theshareofservicesincreasedfrom42.
6percentin1999to50.
3percentin2008.
TheserelativesharessuggestthatthePalestinianeconomyisdrivennotbyproductiveinvestmentbutbyconsumption,whichissustainedfirstbyforeignaidandsecondbythewagesearnedbyPalestiniansworkinginIsraelandinsettlements.
77.
TheWorldBankreportsthatforeignaid,atclosetoUS$1.
8billionin2008,wasequivalenttoapproximately30percentofGDP(WorldBank,2009),i.
e.
US$487perPalestinianperyear–oneofthehighestaidratiosintheworld.
Foreignaidhasbeenessentialtoprovidefoodaidforapproximatelyhalfofthepopulationwhichisdependentonit,tofinancethefunctioningofessentialservices,notablyeducationandhealth,aswellasbasicinfrastructure,andtoenablethePalestinianAuthoritytooperateandpayitscivilservants(estimatedat140,000inmid-2008).
78.
Inthefourthquarterof2008,thenumberofPalestiniansemployedinIsraelhadrisento78,000,an18percentincreaseover2007.
Theactualnumbermayevenbehigher,astheIsraeliCBSrecordsinthecurrentaccountofIsraelapaymentoffactorincome(wagespaidtoPalestinianworkersemployedinIsrael)ofUS$866millionin2008,a49percentincreaseover2007(CBS,2008).
ThisispartlyexplainedbythestrongNISrelativetotheUSdollar(thecurrencyoftheinternationaltransactionsrecordedinthecurrentaccount),butalsoreflectsgreaternumbersofPalestinianworkersemployedinIsrael,whosewagesandconsumptionpropuptheeconomyoftheWestBank.
Employmentscarsofoccupation79.
TheemploymentsituationintheWestBankandGazacloselytrackseconomicactivity,andsufferedamarkeddeteriorationin2008.
80.
Thesituationin2008intheWestBankwasstableataverylowlevel,whileinGazaitwentfrombadtoworseundertheimpactofthetotalblockade,whichhasvirtuallystrangledallregulareconomicactivity.
Totalemploymentdeclinedsharply(by28,000)inGazainthefourthquarterwithrespecttothesamequarterin2007;androseonlymarginally(by3,000)intheWestBankoverthesameperiod,asshownintable3.
4.
ThiswasreflectedinasteepincreaseinunemploymentinGaza,from28.
9percentto44.
8percent(16percentagepoints).
IntheWestBank,unemploymentedgedupfrom19.
2percentinthefourthquarterof2007to19.
8percentinthefourthquarterof2008.
ThesenumbersarelikelytohaveincreasedevenmorefollowingthemilitaryinvasionofGazainJanuary2009.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories20Table3.
4.
Employmentandunemployment2007Q42008Q4Change(%)Employment(in'000s):WestBank4034063Gaza189161–28Unemployment(in%):WestBank19.
219.
80.
6Gaza28.
944.
815.
9Source:PCBS,2007–08.
81.
Theemploymentrate(populationaged15andover)increasedslightlyintheWestBank,to34.
3percentinthelastquarterof2008,butdeclinedfurtherinGazato21.
4percent–equivalenttoonepersoninfiveinthatagegroup.
Bothratesareextremelylowbyinternationalstandards.
Anothermeasureofthescarcityofemploymentisthedependencyratio:onaverage,oneemployedpersonsupports4.
7personsintheWestBank,but8.
8personsinGaza.
82.
However,theselowemploymentfiguresdonotfullycapturetheimpactonPalestinianworkersandfamiliesofadecadeofeconomicstagnation.
Infact,allpersonscountedas"employed"maynotbeinfull-timeemployment.
Theboundariesbetweenemployment,unemploymentandtheeconomicallyinactivepopulation(outsidethelabourforce)areincreasinglyblurred.
Peoplemaybeemployedbuttemporarilyabsent,orworkingveryfewhoursperweek,orevenworkingbutnotbeingpaid.
EconomicblockadeofGaza83.
TheUnitedNationsReliefandWorksAgencyforPalestineRefugeesintheNearEast(UNRWA)estimatesthatnearly45,000Gazanshaveineffectbeen"absenteeworkers"sincethefirsthalfof2007(WorldBank,2009).
AccordingtodatacollectedbyPALTRADE,thenumberofindustrialestablishmentsdeclinedfrom3,900inJune2005to200inDecember2008(priortothemilitaryinvasion),whilethenumberofworkersfellfrom35,000to1,900overthesameperiod(ibid.
).
84.
TheconsequencesoftheblockadeoftheGazaeconomyarereflectedinthedramaticallylowlevelsofemploymentsharesinagriculture(7percent),manufacturing(2.
7percent)andconstruction(lessthan1percent).
Some68percentoftotalemploymentinGaza(upfrom37percentin1999)isnowinservices–averyskeweddistribution(PCBS,2009a).
85.
Economicactivityisnowreducedtoitsminimumexpressionaroundfoodaid,publicemploymentandthe"tunneleconomy"thatcontinuestooperate,evenafterthemilitaryinvasionlaunchedinDecember2008.
BarrierstosocialandeconomicdevelopmentintheWestBankandGaza21Alow-productivityeconomy86.
ThesectoraldistributionofemploymentintheWestBankandGaza,comparedtothesectoralsharesofGDP(table3.
5),showsthatemploymentinagriculture,constructionandcommerceismuchhigherthanthecorrespondingshareinGDP,pointingtolowerthanaverageoutputperpersonemployed.
Thereverseistrueformanufacturing(althoughitsrelativeshareinbothemploymentandoutputisverylow),transportandservices.
Whatthesenumberssuggestisthatlargesegmentsoftheeconomyshowlowerthanaverageproductivity,whichmaybeattributedeithertoalargenumberofsmallestablishments,eachoperatingatarelativelylowlevelofactivity,ortosignificantworksharing,i.
e.
relativelyhighemploymentintensity.
Table3.
5.
SectoraldistributionofGDPandemployment,2008ShareinGDP(%)Shareinemployment(%)Agriculture5.
213.
0Manufacturing15.
611.
1Construction5.
610.
8Commerce,restaurantsandhotels14.
920.
1Transport,storageandcommunication10.
25.
6Services48.
539.
4Total100100Source:PCBS,2009aand2009d.
Palestinianyouthnotinemploymentandnotineducation87.
ThePalestinianpopulationisyoung.
OverfourPalestiniansintenareagedunder14–1.
6millionor43percentofthepopulation.
Theyouthshareoftheworking-agepopulation(15–64years)isevenlarger:52percent,orjustover1million,areinthe15–29agegroup(basedon2007censusdata).
88.
Educationenrolmentratesarerelativelyhighuptoages15to17,withover85percentofyoungstersineducation.
Butatage18,theenrolmentratedropsto12percent.
Thissuggeststhat34percentofthe15–29agegroupisineducation.
Ontheotherhand,PCBSdataindicatethatsome20percentofthatagegroupisinemployment.
Takentogether,thesefiguresrevealthatsome540,000youngpeople,or54percentofthatagegroup,areneitherinemploymentnorineducation.
Youthidleness,joblessness,povertyandmilitaryoccupationcombinetoformaverydangerousmix,asseveralsocialscientistshaveobservedinotherrelatedcontexts.
89.
Thewell-knownAmericansociologistWilliamJuliusWilson,writingonurbanpovertyandthedisappearanceofworkintheinnercitiesofthe1980sand1990s,observedthat:"Aneighborhoodinwhichpeoplearepoorbutemployedisdifferentfromaneighborhoodinwhichpeoplearepoorandjobless"(Wilson,1996).
90.
JobsforyoungPalestinianmenandwomenshouldbeveryhighontheagendaofanyoneconcernedwithstabilityintheMiddleEast.
Giventhenumbersquotedabove,aspecialemploymentguaranteeforyouthwouldbeentirelyjustified.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories22Box3.
3SharekYouthForum:AmessagefortheILO's90thanniversaryTheILOanditsPalestiniantripartitepartnerscommemoratedthe90thanniversaryoftheOrganizationjointlywithSharekYouthForumon21April2009.
TheForumisaleadingPalestinianorganizationrunbyyouthandforyouthandworkstoenhancePalestiniansocietythroughyouthempowerment.
Underthetheme"ILOmarksits90thanniversarywithglobaldialoguefordecentworkandafairglobalization",SharekengagedyoungpeopleandrepresentativesoftheILO'stripartitePalestinianpartners(government,employersandworkers),oftheprivatesectorandofacademiainathree-dayopendiscussioninwhichanumberofconcernsrelatedtoyouthemploymentwereraised.
Nearly500youngpeopleattendedthemeetingsheldinRamallah,Hebron,NablusandGazacity.
Youngpeopleunder17yearsofageaccountfor50percentofthePalestinianpopulation,andamongtheworking-agepopulation(15–64years),52percentareinthe15–29agegroup,ofwhom54percentareneitherinemploymentnorineducation.
Accordingly,thethemesoftheworkshopscentredonequalemploymentopportunitiesforyoungpeople,onhowtocreateaneffectivepartnershipbetweenuniversitiesandtheprivatesector,andonissuesrelatedtotransparencyinthelabourmarket.
Thecross-cuttingmessagewastoensurethateveryyoungPalestinianisgivenanopportunitythroughfairemploymentorentrepreneurship.
TheyoungpeopleattendingtheeventconsideredthetalkswiththeMinisterofLabourandPlanningandrepresentativesofthesocialpartners,theprivatesectorandcivilsocietyorganizationsasarealchancetobringuptheirconcernsandideaswiththemdirectly.
JustanothercoupleofmeetingsAsoneofthemajoroutcomes,SharekYouthForuminitiatedweeklydialogueworkshopsbringingtogetheryouthanddecision-makersindifferentplacestodealwithgovernanceissues.
Priceinstability91.
ThePalestinianeconomyhasbeenrelativelyimmunetothevolatilityintheworldeconomy,saveinonerespect–prices.
Pricesclimbedsharplyin2008,withapeakinAugust–September2008,particularlythoseoffoodstaples,whichmostaffectthepurchasingpoweroflow-incomehouseholds.
In2008,theconsumerpriceindexroseby9.
89percentonaverage,but13.
98percentinGaza,whiletheaverageriseinfoodpriceshasbeenover17percent,andover21percentinGaza.
Inearly2009,therateofpriceincreaseshasabated,butpriceshaveremainedhigh.
92.
Priceshaverisenunderthecombinedeffectofinternationalprices,particularlyforfoodstaplessuchaswheat,andlocalscarcity,especiallyinGaza,whichiscutofffromtherestoftheworld.
93.
Inaddition,thestrongappreciationoftheNISagainsttheUSdollar(anaverageof13percentover2008)hasreducedthecostofimportsintotheWestBankandGaza,buthasalsounderminedthepurchasingpowerofforeignaid,mostofwhichisdonatedinUSdollars.
234.
TheoccupiedSyrianGolan94.
IsraeloccupiedtheSyrianGolanin1967andformallyannexeditin1981.
TheinternationalcommunitymaintainsthattheIsraelidecisiontoimposeitslaws,jurisdictionandadministrationintheoccupiedSyrianGolanisnullandvoidandwithoutinternationallegaleffect.
DespitetheconsistentdemandsoftheSecurityCouncil,theGeneralAssemblyandtheHumanRightsCouncilcallingonIsraeltorescinditsdecision,11theannexationcontinuestoaffectthelivesandhumanrightsoftheSyriancitizenslivingintheoccupiedSyrianGolanonadailybasis.
95.
DatafromtheIsraeliCBSpublishedin2008suggestthatthenumberofIsraelisettlerslivingintheoccupiedSyrianGolanwas17,300asof31July2007–upfrom16,900in2006(CBS,2008).
Inthemeantime,theUnitedNationscontinuedtorejecttheIsraelisettlementactivitiesintheoccupiedSyrianGolanasillegalandtocallonIsraeltodesistfromchangingitsdemographiccomposition.
1296.
TheinformationregardingtheoccupiedSyrianGolanreceivedbythemissionin2009doesnotalterthefindingsofpreviousreportsoftheDirector-General.
SyriancitizenslivingintheoccupiedSyrianGolanfaceseriousobstaclesinpursuingtheirlivelihoodsandoccupations.
Havingtraditionallyreliedonagriculturalactivities,particularlyfruitcultivation,theyareseverelyconstrainedbyIsraelimeasuresandpoliciesrestrictingtheiraccesstolandandwater.
DiscriminatorywaterquotasandtariffschemesfavourIsraelisettlers.
97.
TheInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCross(ICRC)facilitatedthetransportof8,000tonnesofapplesacrossthedemarcationlinebetweentheoccupiedSyrianGolanandtheSyrianArabRepublicinFebruary2009(ICRC,2009).
13Similartransfershadtakenplaceannuallyfrom2005to2007.
AccesstotheSyrianmarketisofcriticalimportancefortheviabilityofthelocaleconomy.
TheSyrianfarmersoftheoccupiedSyrianGolanaresatisfiedwiththepriceobtainedfortop-gradeapples(US$1perkilogram)intheSyrianArabRepublic.
However,theyhopeforanimprovementinthepriceforsecond-gradeapples,whichmakeupthelargestshareoftheirtotalproductionowingtorestrictionsinwatersupply.
98.
TheSyriancitizensoftheoccupiedSyrianGolansufferfromalackofemploymentopportunitiesintheircommunities,withnoprospectsforeconomicdevelopmentfortheregion.
Formany,employmentinIsrael,primarilyintheconstructionsector,remainstheonlyoption.
Aconsistentmessagefromallofthemission'sinterlocutorsisthattheseworkersarehighlydependentonsubcontractorsforaccesstotheIsraelilabourmarket,whichmakesthemvulnerabletoexploitativepracticesandviolationsoftheirlabourrights.
TheabsenceofemploymentopportunitiesintheoccupiedSyrianGolanparticularlyaffectswomen,whoseoccupationalandregionalmobilityisespeciallyrestricted.
99.
ThemissiontookduenoteoftheHistradrut'swillingnesstosupporttheSyriancitizenslivingintheoccupiedSyrianGolanindefendingtheirlabourrights.
However,italsoacknowledgesthelatter'schoicenottoavailthemselvesofthisopportunity,astheydesiretomaintaintheiridentityinthecurrentcontextofoccupationandannexation.
11SecurityCouncilresolution497(1981)of17December1981andsubsequentresolutionsoftheGeneralAssemblyandtheHumanRightsCouncil,mostrecentlyGeneralAssemblyresolution63/99of18December2008andHumanRightsCouncilresolution10/17of26March2009.
12GeneralAssemblyresolution63/97of5December2008,HumanRightsCouncilresolution10/17of26March2009.
13Totalproductionin2008was34,000tonnes.
245.
Improvedpublicgovernanceandsocialdialogue100.
Palestinianinstitutionsarecontinuingtheireffortstoaddressgovernanceissueswithintheprevailingpoliticalarrangementsandrestrictions.
Respectforfundamentalrights101.
"Wefunctionasastatecontroller",saidDrMamdouhAker,theCommissionerGeneraloftheIndependentCommissionforHumanRights(ICHR).
Establishedin1993,theCommissionhasconsolidateditselfintoarespectedinstitutionthatchampionsthePalestiniannationalcausebypromotingandprotectingfundamentalhumanrightsandfreedoms.
TheCommissionreportsdirectlytothePresidentofthePalestinianAuthorityandthePalestinianLegislativeCouncil.
WithitsrecentadmissiontotheInternationalCoordinatingCommitteeofNationalInstitutionsforthePromotionandProtectionofHumanRights(ICC),theCommissionhasgainedinternationalrecognitionasanationalhumanrightsinstitutioninlinewiththeParisPrinciples.
14102.
In2008,theCommissionissuedspecialreportsonfreedomofthemediaandfreedomofassociation,includingtheexerciseoftradeunionrights.
Italsoexpressedconcernoverdismissalsandsalarysuspensions,affectingsome260civilservants,ongroundsof"securityconsiderations"or"lackofcommitmenttolegitimateGovernment".
Itconsideredsuchtreatmentcontrarytotheexistinglawsandtheruleoflaw,andaddressedspecificrecommendationstothePalestinianauthoritiesinthisregard(ICHR,2009).
TheCommission'smandatehasprovenofcrucialimportanceintimesofintra-Palestinianconflict,whenitinvestigatedhumanrightsabusesonallsides.
103.
ThePalestinianAuthorityendorsedtheUNConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen(CEDAW)on9March2009.
AnextstepisthepreparationofgenderequalitylegislationtoensuretheimplementationoftheConvention.
Anenhancedlegalframeworktopromotegenderequality,includingintheworldofwork,willreinforceongoingeffortstopromotewomen'saccesstoemploymentandincome-generatingactivities.
15Socialdialogue:Achievementsandchallenges104.
TheMinisterofLabourandPlanning,DrSamirAbdullah,indicatedtothemissionthatthePalestiniantripartiteconstituentsgenerallymaintainedgoodrelations,butcalledformoresystematicandinstitutionalizedsocialdialoguethroughapermanentmechanism.
ThiswasechoedbythePGFTU,whichalsourgedthatatripartiteconsultationbodybeestablishedunderthelabourlegislationtoprovideaplatformforgenuinepartnership.
105.
Emphasizingtheprincipleoftradeunionpluralism,theICHRcalledontheMinistryofLabourandPlanningtoensureappropriatetradeunionregistration(ICHR,2009).
However,themissionwasinformedthatnoprogresshadbeenmadeinputtingin14PrinciplesrelatingtotheStatusofNationalInstitutionsforthePromotionandProtectionofHumanRights,20Dec.
1993.
15ThePalestinianAuthorityhasalreadycommitteditselftorespectingtheILODiscrimination(EmploymentandOccupation)Convention,1958(No.
111),andtheEqualRemunerationConvention,1951(No.
100).
ThesefundamentalILOConventionsandCEDAWarecomplementaryandmutuallyreinforcing.
Improvedpublicgovernanceandsocialdialogue25placelegislationthatwouldprovidetheframeworkfortheestablishmentandregistrationoftradeunions,inlinewithILOstandards.
106.
Meanwhile,thePalestinianFederationofIndustries(PFI)hasconsolidateditspositionasasocialpartnereagertocontributetoeconomicandsocialprogressbyholdinginternalelectionsandovercomingfinancialdifficulties.
Progressonsecurityandfiscalanddebtmanagement107.
Manyofthemission'sinterlocutorsindicatedthattheoverallsecuritysituationintheWestBankiscontinuingtoimprove.
TheprogressmadebythePalestinianAuthorityinestablishinglawandorderisacknowledgedintheUnitedStatesDepartmentofState'sCountryReportsonTerrorism2008,issuedon30April2009(USDepartmentofState,2009).
108.
CooperationbetweentheIsraeliandPalestiniansecurityservicesalsoimproved,althoughuncoordinatedunilateralraidsbytheIDFinareasunderPalestiniancontrolcontinued(ibid.
).
ThePalestinianICHRurgedthatsecuritymeasuresbetakeninamannerthatisconsistentwithfundamentalhumanrightsandfreedomsandtheruleoflaw.
109.
Inthecourseof2008,thePalestinianAuthorityhassignificantlyimproveditsfiscalanddebtmanagement.
TheInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)(2009)pointsspecificallytocontinuedfiscalconsolidationin2008,bringingthebudgetdeficitdownfrom24percentofGDPin2007to19percentin2008.
ThiswasachievedpredominantlybycuttingbackutilitysubsidiesandthePalestinianAuthoritywagebill;the2009budgetenvisagesfurthersubstantialreductionsintheexternalfinancingrequirementsfortherecurrentbudget.
Inaddition,aGeneralAccountingDepartmentwasestablishedintheMinistryofFinancetosupportanimprovedPublicFinanceManagementSystem,whiletheinstitutionalreformseffectedbythePalestineMonetaryAuthority,includingtheadoptionofanAnti-MoneyLaunderingLaw,haveearneditastrongreputationforprudentialbankingregulation.
StrengthenedIsraeli–Palestiniantradeunioncooperation110.
In2008,boththePGFTUandtheGeneralFederationofLabourinIsrael(theHistadrut)toldthemissionthattheylookedforwardtoreinforcingtheircollaboration(ILO,2008a).
Followinguponthesecommitments,thetwoworkers'organizationsreachedalandmarkagreementon24July2008aimedatincreasedprotectionofPalestinianworkersandadvancingfraternityandcoexistencebetweentheIsraeliandPalestinianpeoples.
TheagreementwasfacilitatedbytheInternationalTradeUnionConfederation(ITUC),towhichboththePGFTUandtheHistadrutareaffiliated.
1616AspreviouslyreportedbytheDirector-General,PalestinianworkersemployedinIsraelpay1percentoftheirwagestotheHistadrut,althoughtheydonotjoinitsmembership(ILO,2003).
In1995,theHistadrutandthePGFTUsignedanagreementprovidingforhalfofthecollectedduestobetransferredtothePGFTU.
ItwasalsoagreedthattheotherhalfofthedueswouldbeusedbytheHistadruttoprovidelegalservicestoPalestinianworkersemployedinIsrael.
The2008agreementbetweentheHistadrutandthePGFTUovercomesdifficultiesintheimplementationofthesepreviousagreements.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories26Box5.
1The2008PGFTU–Histadrutagreement:Somekeyfeatures–ReimbursementbytheHistadruttothePGFTUoftheoutstandingbalanceoflegalrepresentationfeespaidbyPalestiniansworkingforIsraeliemployerssince1993,andtransferofatleast50percentofsuchfeestothePGFTUinthefuture.
–ProvisionoflegalassistancebytheHistadruttoPalestinianworkersemployedbyIsraeliemployers,andsupporttothePGFTUinhandlingsuchcases.
–Organizationofeducationalandvocationaltrainingcoursesandworkshops,particularlyintheareaofworkers'rightsandoccupationalsafetyandhealth.
111.
Initsdiscussionswiththemission,theHistadrutpresentedseveralnewprojectsandinitiativestobepursuedunderthenewagreement,incooperationwithPalestiniancounterparts.
TheseincludeatrainingprojectforPalestinianandIsraelitruckdriversonlabourrightsandoccupationalsafetyandhealth,ajointinitiativebetweentheIsraeliandPalestiniantransportunions,andaprojectprovidingtrainingandemploymenttoPalestinianconstructionworkersinIsrael,aninitiativeinvolvingtherespectiveconstructionworkers'unions.
Thelatterprojectwillenable60PalestinianworkerstoupgradetheirskillsandsubsequentlybeemployedbyIsraeliconstructioncompanies.
TheHistadrutiscurrentlyseekinginternationaldonorsupportforthisprogramme,incooperationwiththeBuildingandWoodWorkers'International(BWI).
TheHistadrutalsocontinuestopublishanddistributeinformationmaterialforPalestinianworkersinArabic.
112.
Themissionwelcomesthesepositivedevelopments.
TheILOhasalwayssupportedandencouragedcloseandfraternalrelationsbetweentheIsraeliandPalestiniantradeunionmovements.
Workingtogethertoprotectworkers'rightsandinterestsputsILOvaluesandprinciplesfirst,displayinghopeonthewaytopeace.
276.
ConclusionsSummaryoffindings113.
TheILOmissionvisitedtheoccupiedArabterritoriesinthesecondhalfofApril2009andwitnessedthedistinctlydifferentsituationsintheGazaStripandintheWestBankwithregardtohumanwelfare,employmentandenterpriseactivity.
WhilesomeindicatorsfortheWestBankshowslightimprovement,thepopulationandeconomyofGazahavebeensufferinginthegripofnearlytotalclosuresince2008,includingthedevastatingmilitaryoperationsofDecember2008–January2009.
OccupiedEastJerusalem,annexedbytheGovernmentofIsraelinbreachofinternationallaw,isincreasinglysubjecttounilateralsegregationfromtheWestBank.
ThesetrendscouldfurtherdisintegratethePalestinianeconomy,jeopardizingatwo-Statesolutionandprospectsofasustainableimprovementinthesituationofworkersandfamilies.
114.
ThePalestinianeconomyandlabourmarketareunabletofunctionunderoccupation.
ModestGDPgrowthregisteredin2008over2007didnottranslateintoincomegrowth,owingtotheincreaseinthepopulation.
RealGDPpercapitaremainssome28percentbelowthepeakof1999.
TherisingshareofservicesinGDPindicatesthatthePalestinianeconomyisdrivennotbyproductiveinvestment,butbyconsumption.
GiventheextraordinarilyhighdependencyofthePalestinianpeopleonforeignaid,atclosetoUS$1.
8billionin2008,domesticforceswouldbefartooweaktomaintainthe1999incomelevels.
115.
Continuinghighunemploymentandlow-productivityemploymentgohandinhandwithpersistentandhumiliatingpoverty.
DestroyedlivelihoodsanduncertainfutureprospectsleadtodespairandfrustrationfortoomanyPalestinianchildren,womenandmen.
Keypotentialsforpositivechange116.
Withoutanydoubt,endingoccupationandestablishinglastingpeaceintheMiddleEastregionisthepriority.
Togetthere,fivekeypotentialsforpositivechangehavebeenflaggedbytheinternationalcommunityandinthisReport.
Theyareasfollows:–liftingtheGazasiegeandimplementingthe2005AgreementonMovementandAccessintheWestBankandGazaStrip;–freeingprivatebusinessandworkersfromtherestrictionsonaccessandmovement,aswellasonaccesstoanduseofnaturalresourcesandinfrastructures,imposedbyoccupationintheoccupiedArabterritories;–bringingintra-Palestinianreconciliationtotangibleresults;–continuingtheimprovementofpublicgovernancebythePalestinianAuthority;and–maximizingtheemploymentcontentofinternationalassistance.
117.
Thefivepotentialsareassociatedwithkeyplayers–theGovernmentofIsrael,thePalestinianAuthority,thedefactogovernmentinGaza,theinternationalcommunityand,lastbutnotleast,thePalestinianprivatesectorandtherepresentativeorganizationsofworkers.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories28118.
Afullyfunctioningprivatesector,withsupportingpublicinstitutionsandfreefromthedebilitatingrestrictionsmentionedabove,hasthepotentialtojump-startproductionandopenupaccesstomarketsandtechnology.
Inturn,risingproductivityandemploymentwouldleadtotangibleoutcomesforthesituationofworkers.
119.
Economicsandsocialjusticeplayanimportantroleinpeacemaking.
"Economicprogressiscrucialtothepoliticalforcesthatfavourpeace"isakeylessonthatemergedfromtheNorthernIrelandconflict(PortlandTrust,2007),aggravatedbyeconomicdisparityandwidespreadviolence.
FinancialsupportfromtheGovernmentoftheUnitedKingdomunderpinnedtheeconomy,andprivatesectorgrowth,fuelledbysubstantialforeigndirectinvestmentandinternationallymediatedeconomicdiscussions,providedaplatformforapoliticalsettlement.
Thereseemtobestrongparallelsfromwhichlessonscanbedrawn.
120.
HalfthePalestinianpopulationisunder17yearsofage.
Theprospectsforthisgenerationtocompleteandusetheireducationtoobtaindecentworkareuncertain,inacontextmarkedbyconfrontationandviolence.
Allthepartiesinvolvedshouldbeeagertoencourageaccesstoqualityeducation,tonurtureemploymentandbusinessopportunitiesandthustoturntraumatization,frustration,angerandhopelessnessintobuildingarealisticvisionofadecentlivelihood.
121.
Theinternationalorganizations,andUNRWAinparticular(UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil,2009a),areplayingaliterallyvitalroleinGaza,where88percentofthepopulationissupportedbytheUNagencies.
ThePalestinianNationalEarlyRecoveryandReconstructionPlanforGaza2009–10reviewskeyeconomicandsocialsupportsystemsinGazathatneedreconstructionandimprovement.
Althoughshort-termneedsdominatethePlan,italsolooksbeyond,towardslastingdevelopment.
"Thereconstructioneffortprovidesanopportunitytorestartandacceleratethelong-termdevelopmentrequiredforGaza"(WorldBank,2009).
ProvidedthatsufficientmaterialsandcashareallowedintoGaza,theseeffortswilldirectlyandindirectlyrekindleprivateproductiveactivityandemployment,reducingrelianceonimmediatereliefandhumanitarianaid.
Akeyvariableistheemploymentcontentofinternationalassistance.
122.
ManyobserversagreethatpublicgovernancehasmuchimprovedunderPrimeMinisterSalamFayyad.
Thisrelatestofiscalanddebtmanagement,internalsecurityinAreasAandBoftheWestBankundertheresponsibilityofthePalestinianAuthority,andoversightofthePalestinianbankingsystembythePalestineMonetaryAuthority.
Labourmarketgovernancestillneedstobefurtherconsolidated.
Asystematicapproachtoemploymentpolicyisneeded,andthecorrespondingstructuresoftheMinistryofLabouraretobestrengthened.
Socialsecuritysystemsrequireacomprehensiveassessment.
TheMinisterofLabourwishestoincludethesocialpartnersmoresystematicallyindecision-making,andthesystemofindustrialrelationsneedsfurtherconsolidationbasedontheILOFreedomofAssociationandProtectionoftheRighttoOrganiseConvention,1948(No.
87),andtheRighttoOrganiseandCollectiveBargainingConvention,1949(No.
98).
Conclusions29ILOassistance17123.
ThisyearthemissionwitnessedanexpandedILOtechnicalcooperationprogrammefortheoccupiedArabterritories,approvedandformallyendorsedbythePalestinianMinisterofLabourandPlanninginMay2008(ILO,2008b).
TheprogrammeaddressestheemploymentchallengesidentifiedinthePalestinianReformandDevelopmentPlan(PRDP).
Theemploymentprogrammetargetsthreeprincipalobjectives:–strengtheninglabourmarketgovernanceandrights;–improvingemployabilitythroughskillsandlocaleconomicdevelopment;and–strengtheningentrepreneurshipandproductivityforprivatesectorgrowth.
124.
Inpreviousyears,thePGFTUhasrepeatedlyraisedwiththeILOtherightsofPalestinianworkersinIsraelandsettlementswithpendingfileswithIsraeliemployers.
Manyworkershavelostentitlementsforlackofcoordinationandlegalfollow-upinIsraelilabourcourts.
TheILOhasagreedtosupportthePGFTUinimprovingitscapacitytoprovidelegalsupportandadvisoryservicestoworkers,incooperationwiththeIsraelifederationHistadrut,throughtheestablishmentofalegalclinic.
The2008agreementbetweentheHistadrutandthePGFTU,facilitatedbytheSecretary-GeneraloftheITUC,isauniqueexampleofcooperationprovidingabasisforreinvigoratedpartnership.
125.
Aspartofitscontinuedsupporttotherepresentativeemployers'organization,andincollaborationwiththeSwedishInternationalDevelopmentCooperationAgency,theILOwillcarryoutaninstitutionalneedsassessmentasameansofstrengtheningorganizationalcapacityandimprovingservicestomembers.
Thiswillalsoreinforcetheirrepresentationrolewithintheprivatesectorandvis-à-visthePalestinianAuthority.
ThePrivateSectorCoordinationCouncil(PSCC)inGazahasurgentlyrequestedsupportforits"IndustrialJobRetention/CreationProgramme"(PFI,2009).
126.
AsaresultofthevisittorepresentativesofbothemployersandworkersinGaza,theILOmissionunderscorestheneedforurgentorganizationalsupport.
"Weareexhaustedowingtotherecenttragicevents",themissionwastoldbyemployers'representatives.
TheGazabranchofthePGFTUisstillsufferingfromtheattacksagainstunionistsandthetakeoverofofficesandfacilitiesbyHamas.
127.
ImportantprogresshasbeenmadeinintegratingILOtechnicalassistanceintotheprogrammingandplanningoftheUNcountryteam.
TheILOhassuccessfullyparticipatedinthepreparationofthejointUNprogrammetopromotewomen'ssocial,economicandpoliticalempowermentintheoccupiedPalestinianterritoriesundertheMDGAchievementFundestablishedbytheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)andtheGovernmentofSpain.
AftertheendofthewarinGazatheILOparticipatedinthepreparationofthePalestinianEarlyRecoveryandReconstructionPlanforGaza2009–10andproposedanappropriateresponseandlongertermILOengagementwithintheframeworkofthePalestinianEmploymentProgramme.
In2008,theILOtookaneffectiveroleinthereviewprocessofthePalestinianNationalDevelopmentPlanwiththeaimofpromotingalonger-termperspectiveforachievingdecentworkandsocialjustice.
17Lastyear'sReportreferredtotherequestoftheGovernmentoftheSyrianArabRepublicfortechnicalassistancetoSyriancitizensintheoccupiedSyrianGolan.
RepresentativesoftheGovernmentofIsraelinformedtheILOmissionthisyearthattheycouldnotlendanysupporttosuchrequests.
TheSyrianMinisterofSocialAffairsandLabour,MsDialaHajAref,hasagainexpressedthewishtoexplorethepracticaldimensionsofsuchassistancetoaddresstheemploymentsituationofSyriancitizensintheoccupiedSyrianGolan,theirrightsasworkers,thedevelopmentofsmallenterprises,micro-initiativesforwomen,vocationaleducationandtraining,andothermattersconcerningdecentwork.
31ReferencesAdalah–TheLegalCenterforArabMinorityRightsinIsrael.
2008.
SummaryofobjectiontotheJerusalemRegionalMasterPlan,Nov.
AnnapolisConference.
2007.
JointUnderstandingonNegotiations,27Nov.
B'Tselem(IsraeliInformationCentreforHumanRightsintheOccupiedTerritories).
2008.
Accessdenied:IsraelimeasurestodenyPalestiniansaccesstolandaroundsettlements,Sep.
CentralBureauofStatistics(CBS)(Israel).
2009.
MonthlyBulletinofStatistics,No.
3/2009,atwww.
cbs.
gov.
il.
—.
2008.
StatisticalAbstractofIsrael2008.
CivicCoalitionforDefendingthePalestinians'RightsinJerusalem(CCDPRJ).
2008.
Forceddisplacementandethniccleansing.
Israel'sviolationsofthePalestinians'rightstoresidencyinJerusalem.
CoordinationofGovernmentActivitiesintheTerritories(COGAT),Israel.
2009andvariousyears.
PresentationtotheILO.
CounciloftheEuropeanUnion.
2009.
DeclarationbythePresidencyonbehalfoftheEuropeanUniononthesettlementactivitiesofIsrael,24Feb.
,atwww.
consilium.
europa.
eu.
Dumont,S.
2009.
"AvigdorLiebermanprovoqueànouveauWashington",inLeMonde,27Apr.
IndependentCommissionforHumanRights(ICHR).
2008.
ThestatusofhumanrightsinthePalestinian-controlledTerritory,FourteenthAnnualReport,ExecutiveSummary,1Jan.
–31Dec.
InternationalCommitteeoftheRedCross(ICRC).
2009.
OccupiedGolan:ICRCtransports8,000tonnesofapplestohelplocalcommunities,Newsrelease09/41,17Feb.
InternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ).
2004.
"LegalconsequencesoftheconstructionofawallintheOccupiedPalestinianTerritory",inReportsofJudgments,AdvisoryOpinionsandOrders,AdvisoryOpinion,9July.
InternationalLabourOffice(ILO).
2008a.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories,ReportoftheDirector-General(Appendix),InternationalLabourConference,97thSession,Geneva.
—2008b.
EnhancedprogrammeoftechnicalcooperationfortheoccupiedArabterritories,GoverningBody,303rdSession,Geneva,Nov.
,doc.
GB.
303/7.
—2003.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories,ReportoftheDirector-General(Appendix),InternationalLabourConference,91stSession,Geneva.
ThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories32InternationalMonetaryFund(IMF).
2009.
MacroeconomicandfiscalassessmentfortheWestBankandGaza,inWorldBank,2009,WestBankandGazaUpdate,Apr.
JerusalemInstituteforIsraelStudies.
2008.
Jerusalem:Factsandtrends2005/2006.
Kershner,I.
2009.
"UNseeksendtorazinghomesinEastJerusalem",inNewYorkTimes,1May.
Korkus,S.
2008.
ChildlabourinJewishsettlements,KavLaOved,28Dec.
OfficeoftheUnitedNationsSpecialCoordinatorfortheMiddleEastPeaceProcess(UNSCO).
2009.
StatementbytheUNSpecialCoordinator,MrRobertSerry,followinghisvisittoGaza,25Mar.
PalestineGeneralFederationofTradeUnions(PGFTU).
2009.
IsraelisoldiersdisruptpeacefulMay1stmarchofworkersintheWestBank,pressrelease,1May.
PalestineTradeCenter(PALTRADE).
2009.
GazaStripCrossingsMonitoringMonthlyReport,Mar.
—.
2008.
GazaTerminalMovementTerminalsMonitoringMonthlyReport,Dec.
PalestinianAcademicSocietyfortheStudyofInternationalAffairs(PASSIA).
2007.
IsraelisettlementactivitiesandrelatedpoliciesinJerusalem,Apr.
PalestinianCentralBureauofStatistics(PCBS).
2009a.
LabourForceSurveyOctober-December2008,RoundQ4/2008,Feb.
—.
2009b.
GDPpercapitainremainingWestBankandGazaStripbythequartersoftheyears2000–2008atconstantprices(1997isthebaseyear),atwww.
pcbs.
gov.
ps[28Apr.
2009].
—.
2009c.
LabourForceSurveydatabase2008(unpublisheddata).
—.
2009d.
Preliminaryestimatesofquarterlynationalaccounts(fourthquarter2008),pressrelease,Apr.
—.
2007-08.
Quarterlyemploymentsurveys.
PalestinianFederationofIndustries(PFI).
2009.
Industrialjobretention/creationprogram,Apr.
PalestinianNationalAuthority.
2009.
ThePalestinianNationalEarlyRecoveryandReconstructionPlanforGaza,2009–2010,InternationalConferenceinSupportofthePalestinianEconomyfortheReconstructionofGaza,Sharmel-Sheikh,Egypt,2Mar.
PortlandTrust.
2007.
Economicsinpeacemaking:LessonsfromNorthernIreland,May.
PrivateSectorCoordinationCouncil(PSCC),GazaGovernorates.
2009.
Gazaprivatesector:Post-warstatusandneeds,PreliminaryAssessmentReport,25Feb.
Sharmel-SheikhFact-FindingCommittee.
2001.
Finalreport(theMitchellReport),atwww.
al-bab.
com[6May2009].
UnitedNations.
2008.
IsraelisettlementsintheOccupiedPalestinianTerritory,includingEastJerusalem,andtheoccupiedSyrianGolan,ResolutionadoptedbytheGeneralAssembly,documentA/RES/63/97,18Dec.
—.
2004.
AdvisoryopinionoftheInternationalCourtofJusticeonthelegalconsequencesoftheconstructionofawallintheoccupiedPalestinianterritory,References33includinginandaroundEastJerusalem,ResolutionadoptedbytheGeneralAssembly,documentA/RES/ES-10/15,2Aug.
UnitedNationsOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs(OCHA).
2009a.
TheHumanitarianMonitor:OccupiedPalestinianterritory,Mar.
—.
2009b.
TheHumanitarianMonitor:OccupiedPalestinianterritory,Jan.
—.
2009c.
GazaHumanitarianSituationReport,2Jan.
—.
2009d.
HumanitarianOverview,Presentation,Mar.
—.
2009e.
TheplanningcrisisinEastJerusalem:Understandingthephenomenonof"illegal"construction,SpecialFocus,Apr.
—.
2008a.
TheoliveharvestintheWestBankandGazaStrip,Oct.
—.
2008b.
Unprotected:IsraelisettlerviolenceagainstPalestinianciviliansandtheirproperty,Dec.
—.
2007–08.
Closuremaps,atwww.
ochaopt.
org.
UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil.
2009a.
Resolution1860adoptedbytheSecurityCouncilatits6063rdMeeting,documentS/RES/1860,8Jan.
—.
2009b.
BriefingbyMrB.
LynnPascoe,Under-Secretary-GeneralforPoliticalAffairs,inThesituationintheMiddleEast,includingthePalestinianquestion,6100thmeeting,64thyear,documentS/PV.
6100,22Mar.
—.
2003.
Annex:"Aperformance-basedroadmaptoapermanenttwo-StatesolutiontotheIsraeli–Palestinianconflict",documentS/2003/529,7May.
—.
1968.
Resolution252,documentS/RES/252(1968),21May.
USDepartmentofState.
2009.
"Chapter2.
Countryreports:MiddleEastandNorthAfricaoverview",inCountryReportsonTerrorism2008,30Apr.
Wilson,W.
J.
1996.
Whenworkdisappears:Theworldofthenewurbanpoor(NewYork,A.
Knopf).
WorldBank.
2009.
WestBankandGazaUpdate,Apr.
35AnnexListofinterlocutorsPalestinianinstitutionsPalestinianAuthorityMinistryofLabourSamirAbdullah,MinisterofLabourandMinisterofPlanningNasserKatami,DeputyAssistantofLabourAdministrationAffairsRamiMehdawi,HeadofMinister'sOfficeAliQdeimat,Director-GeneralofInspectionsandLabourProtectionAbdulMajidSwailem,Director-GeneralofPlanningandPoliciesKhaldounMusleh,Director-GeneralofEmploymentHaniAl-Shanti,DirectorofInternationalCooperationDepartmentMinistryofLabour,JeninAhmadDaragmeh,Director,MinistryofLabourOfficeinJeninMinistryofNationalEconomy,JeninEmadAbuTabeekh,Director-GeneralMinistryofPlanningCairoArafat,Director-GeneralforAidManagementandCoordinationLourdesHabash,DirectorofInternationalOrganizationDepartmentMinistryofLocalGovernment,YabadMunicipalityWalidAlabady,MayorofYabadAbdullahAl-Kilani,DeputyMayorPalestineLiberationOrganization(PLO)/PalestinianLegislativeCouncil(PLC)SaebErakat,HeadofNegotiationDepartmentOfficeofthePresidentRafiqHusseini,ChiefofStaffAdnanHusseini,AdvisortothePresidentforJerusalemAffairsThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories36PalestinianEconomicCouncilforDevelopmentandReconstruction(PECDAR)MohammadShtayyeh,PresidentPalestinianCentralBureauofStatistics(PCBS)OlaAwad,DeputyPresidentforPlanningandExternalRelationsSuhaKana'n,DirectorofLabourForceDepartmentAmenehKhaseib,DirectorofNationalAccountsDepartmentMohammadAl-Omari,Director-GeneralofDemographicandSocialStatisticsSalehAl-Kafri,Director-GeneralofEconomicStatisticsPalestineMonetaryAuthority(PMA)JihadAl-Wazir,GovernorRiyadM.
AbuShehadeh,Director,BankingSupervisionDepartmentMohammadAtallah,AdministrativeSupervisor,ResearchandMonetaryPoliciesDepartmentWorkers',employers'andotherorganizationsPalestineGeneralFederationofTradeUnions(PGFTU),NablusShaherSae'd,Secretary-GeneralGhadaAbuGhalyoon,CoordinatorofYouthDepartmentFathiNasser,PublicAffairsDepartmentandLegalAdvisorAmnaA.
J.
Mafarja,Women'sDepartmentHussainFuqaha,MemberofExecutiveCommitteeIbrahimDaragmah,MemberofExecutiveCommitteePalestineGeneralFederationofTradeUnions(PGFTU),JeninAbdelHakeemShebani,DeputySecretary-GeneralBayerSaidBayer,Secretariat,SecretaryofYouthServicePalestineGeneralFederationofTradeUnions(PGFTU),GazaAyeshEbaid,DeputySecretary-GeneralofthePGFTUandChairmanoftheGeneralUnionofConstructionandCarpentryWorkersTariqAl-Hindi,SecretaryofthePGFTUandSecretary-GeneraloftheGeneralUnionofAgricultureWorkersBashirAl-Sici,DeputySecretary-General,GeneralUnionofPublicServiceWaelKhalaf,ExecutiveMemberMohamedHeles,ExecutiveMemberAbdulRaoufMahdi,InternationalRelationsSecretaryFederationofPalestinianChambersofCommerce,IndustryandAgriculture(FPCCIA),Al-RamAhmadHashemZoghayyer,PresidentJamalJawabreh,DirectorAnnex37SalfitChamberofCommerceFuadAwad,PresidentNorthHebronChamberofCommerceZainEl-DinShalaldeh,PresidentJerusalemChamberofCommerceAzzamAbu-Elso'od,DirectorHebronChamberofCommerceJibrelAl-Natsheh,SecretaryNablusChamberofCommerceandIndustry(NCCI)NameerT.
Khayyat,GeneralDirectorJeninChamberofCommerceNasrAtyani,Director-GeneralGazaChamberofCommerceBassamMortaja,ManagingDirectorMaherAl-Taba',DirectorofPublicRelationsMohammedYazegi,HeadofPublicRelationsDepartment,GazaChamberofCommerce,andChairman,YazegiGroupforSoftDrinksLtdPalestinianContractorsUnion,GazaMohammedHussaini,ExecutiveManagerTaysirAziz,BoardMemberMahmoudAbde,BoardMemberZoheirDawoud,BoardMemberSa'diSalama,BoardMemberPalestinianBusinessmenAssociation,GazaNabilAbuMuaileq,TreasurerFaysalShawa,BoardMemberAlawdaforNutritiveProductsManufacturingCompany,GazaMohammedA.
Telbani,GeneralManagerPalestinianInformationTechnologyAssociation,GazaMohammadEl-Alami,Vice-ChairmanPalestinianFederationofIndustriesBassimS.
Khoury,Chairman,PFIWestBank,andGeneralManagerofPharmaCarePLCAmrHamad,ExecutiveDirector,PFIGazaPalestineTradeCenter(PALTRADE)MaherHamdan,ChiefExecutiveOfficerThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories38GTZCenterforSmallEnterprises,GazaMaherAbuAmsha,GazaBranchManagerSharhabeelAlzaeemandAssociates,GazaSharhabeelAlZa'eem,FounderandSeniorPartnerPalThinkforStrategicStudies,GazaOmarShaban,PresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficerPalestinianAcademicSocietyfortheStudyofInternationalAffairs(PASSIA)MahdiAbdulHadi,PresidentAl-Haq,RamallahShawanJabarin,GeneralDirectorZahiJaradat,FieldResearchCoordinatorIndependentCommissionforHumanRights,RamallahMamdouhAker,CommissionerGeneralCivicCoalitionforJerusalem,WelfareAssociationZakariaOdeh,ExecutiveDirectorIsraeliinstitutionsGovernmentofIsraelMinistryofIndustry,TradeandLabourShlomoItzhaky,ChiefLabourRelationsOfficerFahdNofal,DirectorofInternationalRelationsMinistryofForeignAffairsTiborShalerSchlosser,Director,InternationalOrganizationsDepartmentNoaFurman,DeputyDirector,InternationalOrganizationsDepartmentCoordinationofGovernmentActivitiesintheTerritories(COGAT)UriSinger,Head,ForeignRelationsBranchAdamWinzer,AssistantHead,InfrastructureBranchDoronSegal,Head,EconomicBranchOferMey-Tal,CrossingBranch,CivilAdministration(WestBank)OdedHerrmann,IsraelDefenseForcesAlexRozenzwige,Head,CivilCoordinationSectionWorkers',employers'andotherorganizationsGeneralFederationofLabourinIsrael(Histadrut)AvitalShapira-Shabirow,Director,InternationalDepartmentYousefKara,HistadrutRepresentativetotheInternationalLabourOrganization,MemberoftheExecutiveBureauAnnex39EliCohen,DeputyChairmanoftheConstructionWorkers'UnionOriStrassberg,DeskManager,German-SpeakingCountries,InternationalDepartmentJadoFarhat,CoordinatorinGolanSamarBreak,RepresentativeofWomen'sActivitiesinGolanHaithamAbu-Awad,Teacher,Masa'dahHighSchoolinGolanGisha-LegalCenterforFreedomofMovementTaniaHary,DirectorofInternationalRelationsKavLaOved–Workers'HotlineRoyWagner,ExternalRelationsCoordinatorandBoardMemberRaedAbuYussef,PalestinianKavLaOvedProjectSalwaAlinat,PalestinianKavLaOvedProjectUnitedNationsandinternationalorganizationsOfficeoftheUnitedNationsSpecialCoordinatorfortheMiddleEastPeaceProcess(UNSCO)RobertH.
Serry,UnitedNationsSpecialCoordinatorfortheMiddleEastPeaceProcessMaxwellGaylard,DeputySpecialCoordinatorandUnitedNationsResident/HumanitarianCoordinatorUnitedNationsOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs(OCHA),OccupiedPalestinianTerritoryRayDolphin,ConsultantAdeebSalman,HumanitarianAffairsAssociateIyadShwaikeh,HumanitarianAffairsAnalystUnitedNationsReliefandWorksAgencyforPalestineRefugeesintheNearEast(UNRWA)FilippoGrandi,DeputyCommissionerGeneralJohnGing,DirectorofUNRWAOperations,GazaUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme/ProgrammeofAssistancetothePalestinianPeople(UNDP/PAPP)RobertoValent,DeputySpecialRepresentativeOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRights,OccupiedPalestinianTerritoryEvaTomi,HeadofOfficeInternationalMonetaryFund,WestBankandGazaOussamaKanaan,MissionChiefandResidentRepresentativeWorldBank,WestBankandGazaCountryOfficeJohnNasir,SeniorEconomistInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCross(ICRC)BarbaraAmstad,HeadofMissionThesituationofworkersoftheoccupiedArabterritories40EuropeanUnionChristianBerger,Representative,EuropeanCommissionTechnicalAssistanceOffice(WestBank,GazaStrip)ThomasBoyer,TaskManager,EuropeanCommissionTechnicalAssistanceOffice(WestBank,GazaStrip)OccupiedSyrianGolanMajdAbuSaleh,LawyerThaerAbuSaleh,DirectorofIndustrialSchoolKanjSleimanAbuSaleh,FarmerSalahMoughrabi,FarmerHayelAbuJabal,FarmerMahmoudMerei,FarmerMeetingsinDamascus,SyrianArabRepublicDialaHajAref,MinisterofSocialAffairsandLabourIssaMaldaoun,DeputyMinisterofSocialAffairsandLabourAhmadHabbab,MemberoftheExecutiveBureau,GeneralFederationofTradeUnionsRiadHejab,GovernorofQuneitraGovernorateInternationalConfederationofArabTradeUnions(ICATU)FaisalMohammedAbdullah,AssistantSecretary-GeneralforAdministrativeandFinancialAffairs,DamascusTomaAl-Jawabrah,AssistantSecretary-GeneralforArabRelationsMohamedBadran,AssistantSecretary-GeneralJamalAl-Shamasat,AssistantSecretary-GeneralforSpecializedCommitteesandLabourLegislationHayefel-Ajami,AssistantSecretary-GeneralAbdelSattarMansour,AssistantSecretary-GeneralFaisalAbdullah,AssistantMeetingsinCairo,EgyptMohamedM.
Sobeih,AmbassadorandAssistantSecretary-General,SectorofPalestineandArabOccupiedTerritories,LeagueofArabStatesSoheirBessiso,MinisterPlenipotentiaryAhmedMaghary,ThirdSecretaryAhmadMohamedLuqman,Director-General,ArabLabourOrganizationRidhaGuissouma,HumanResourcesDirector,ArabLabourOrganizationAminFaris,ArabLabourOrganizationEmanAbdelMaksoud,ArabLabourOrganization