RAMALLAH, Thursday, July 11 2024 (WAFA) – The Ministry of National Economy said today that the Israeli occupation continues to tighten control over inputs to the national economy and use dual-use goods as a pretext to limit the possibility of reviving the economic sectors in Palestine and increase dependency on the occupation’s economy.
The Ministry also said that there are at least 100 raw materials that the occupation prevents from entering the Palestinian market for the same pretext.
The Ministry considered, in a statement, such steps as one of the tools of economic pressure exercised by the Israeli forces to break the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
The Ministry stated that the Israeli security, environmental and health pretexts promoted by the occupation government are a circumvention of international regulations and laws, and a violation of international practices followed in industrial and agricultural production processes, causing more complications that limit the recovery of economic sectors.
Israel prevents the entry of more than 100 raw materials into the Palestinian market, used in the leather, construction, food, engineering, metal, textile, sewing, aluminium, chemical, metallurgical, equipment and spare parts sectors.
Israel also prevents the entry of sulfuric and nitric acid, which are used in many industries, and other materials, which inflicts huge losses on industries and causes the closure of some of them.
The World Bank considered that the restrictions imposed on dual-use goods are now hindering the economy’s ability to create jobs that are compatible with the growing market needs, given that these goods are major requirements and inputs for production.
The World Bank highlighted the negative effects of restrictions on dual-use goods, most severe in the industrial, information and communications technology, and agriculture sectors.
The agricultural sector contributes significantly to Palestinian food security, but restrictions imposed on dual-use goods have reduced the concentration of active chemicals in fertilizers, making them less effective, according to a World Bank report.
The Palestinian economy is facing an unprecedented economic shock, the severity of which escalated after last October due to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, and it is expected that the economic contraction will reach 10% by the end of this year.
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