PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATIONNegotiations Affairs DepartmentNegotiations Support Unit

Beyond ‘Disengagement’Beyond ‘Disengagement’ Gaza, Settlements, and the WallGaza, Settlements, and the Wall

PART 1: Evacuation and the PA PA Achievements

Challenges and Outstanding Problems

PART 2: Undermining the Bush Vision The Wall & Israeli Settlement

Expansion Focus on Jerusalem

PART 3: The Way Forward

Today’s PresentationToday’s Presentation

PART I PART I

Evacuation and the PA Evacuation and the PA Achievements and ChallengesAchievements and Challenges

Intensive preparations in lead-up to withdrawal

Withdrawal of army and settlers proceeded peacefully, without disruption

Palestinian unity behind one government voice

Ongoing coordination on political and technical levels

PA implementing plans for economic recovery

Strong Palestinian Strong Palestinian PerformancePerformance

Greenhouse Greenhouse Gush KatifGush Katif

Fragile Economy Since 2000, average incomes declined by 1/3 Unemployment rate is 35% in Gaza (27% overall) Labor exports to Israel down by 68% since 2000 Poverty rate projected at 76% in Gaza (62% overall) by 2008

Restricted Movement of Goods Border crossings: dramatic increase in shipping costs Truck traffic down from 500/day to 35 day Exports from OPT dropped 35% in past 4 years 75% of businesses function at 1/3 of previous capacity

Economic UpdateEconomic Update

Maintaining MomentumMaintaining Momentum

Economic Recovery & Political Stability

Internal Movement (GS-WB)Movement to/thru Israel

Access to World

Rafah PA improving infrastructure, systems, capacity Movement of people through Rafah is top priority Outgoing goods to move through Rafah Temporary movement of imports through Kerem Shalom

Airport/Seaport Construction on both to begin immediately Donor funding needed

Access to the Rest of the WorldAccess to the Rest of the World

Movement to and through IsraelMovement to and through Israel Crossing Points

Months of meetings with minimal progress

No agreement on service standards, monitoring, dispute resolution, movement of agriculture

Wolfensohn proposed continuous session to complete process. No response from Israel.

Safe Passage/Territorial LinkSafe Passage critical for economic recovery & political unity

Israel willing to discuss “pilot” convoy system

World Bank/USAID comprehensive study for territorial link

Karni Crossing Point Karni Crossing Point (Gaza District)(Gaza District)

Internal MovementInternal Movement

Internal Closures in West Bank

Wolfensohn and World Bank: freeing up of internal movement essential to economic revival

Comprehensive lifting of internal closure needed, including flying checkpoints

Administrative Status of WB

Lifting closures in and out of evacuated areas

Evacuated areas to be designated “Area A”

Trade Regime Economic shift from labor exports to export of goods Legislative and regulatory reforms on trade and business laws

Generous capital financing and short-term emergency budget

Job Creation Increase labor exports in short-term Investments in reconstruction projects

Water Water crisis requires immediate strategic initiative for equitable

redistribution of water Regional desalination facility in Gaza is critical

Economic RenewalEconomic Renewal

PART II PART II

Undermining the Bush VisionUndermining the Bush VisionIsraeli Settlements and The WallIsraeli Settlements and The Wall

The Wall remains an integral part of Israel’s settlement infrastructure.

Wall Update (October Wall Update (October 2005)2005)

WB land outside (west) of Wall: 9.5 %

Jordan Valley settlement control: 28.5 %

Settlement blocs east of Wall: 8.0 %

Area remaining for Palestinians: 54.0 %

Palestinians isolated west of Wall:

Palestinians separated from their land:

Land

People

The Wall and Closure Regimes restrict Palestinian movement and development to benefit

illegal settlements.

242,000 (10%)

284,000 (12%)

Wall Update (October Wall Update (October 2005)2005)Permanent Infrastructure

Israel continues to invest millions in large-scale permanent infrastructure at the Wall, such as industrial estates and crossing terminals.

Qalandia Checkpoint Qalandia Checkpoint (Jerusalem District)(Jerusalem District)

Closed Zone & Permit Regime

Khirbet Jubara Khirbet Jubara (Tulkarem District)(Tulkarem District)

• Palestinians require ‘access’ / ‘residency’ permits.

• Wall gate openings unreliable, highly restrictive.

• Israel treating Closed Zone as Israeli territory.

90-95 % of permit rejections are based on ‘land ownership’ rather than ‘security’ grounds.

Closed ZoneWall Update (October Wall Update (October

2005)2005)

Ma‘ale Adumim2100 units

Giva’ Binyamin200 units

E-1 Plan3500 units

Giv’at Zeev132 units

Betar ‘Illit500 units

Zufin1500 units

Mod’in ‘Illit1500 units

Etz Efraim240 units

Elkana90 units

Har Adar70 units

Har Gilo35 units

Alon Shevut35 units

6,391 new settler units approved for 2005

3,500 units approved for E-1 / Ma‘ale Adumim

The Wall & Settlement The Wall & Settlement ExpansionExpansion

Approved plans to double Jordan Valley settler population.

There are more Israeli settlers in the OPT today than before ‘disengagement’.

Un-Natural Growth:

Settlement Current Units New Units%

Increase

Zufin 225 1,500 570 %

Givat Binyamin 400 200 50 %

Modi‘in ‘Illit 4,300 1,500 35 %

Har Adar 404 70 17 %

The Wall in The Wall in East East

JerusalemJerusalem

Separates Palestinians from Palestinians.

Isolates East Jerusalem from rest of West Bank.

Reinforces Israeli settlements, integrates them into Israel.

There can be no Palestinian state without its capital,

East Jerusalem.

11-aug-0411-aug-04

““Area 7” Area 7”

““Nofei Sela” Nofei Sela”

27-sep-0527-sep-05

Settlement Expansion: Ma’ale Settlement Expansion: Ma’ale AdumimAdumim

““Mitzpe Mitzpe Nevo” Nevo”

Settlement Expansion: Ma’ale Settlement Expansion: Ma’ale AdumimAdumim

11-apr-0511-apr-05

““Nofei Sela” Nofei Sela”

Settlement Expansion: “E-1” AreaSettlement Expansion: “E-1” Area

Settlement Expansion: “E-1” AreaSettlement Expansion: “E-1” Area

SUMMARYSUMMARY

Despite Palestinian coordination, Gaza remains closed with minimal results on movement/access.

The Wall, Settlements, and Closure regimes undermine Palestinian viability and territorial contiguity.

Israel is using the Wall to sever Palestinian E. Jerusalem from the West Bank and impose a final status outcome.

Political process is needed to give Palestinians hope and reinstate bi-lateralism over unilateralism.