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.
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