By Stan Goodenough
Apr 27, 2008
The majority of the Palestinian Arabs can support their people's firing of rockets and other acts of terrorism against Israeli Jewish communities even as they enjoy employment opportunities and supplies of fuel and other facilities made possible by Israeli largesse and compassion.
Despite this, it is not these Arabs and their bloodthirsty ways that are responsible for their own economic hardships.
No, according to the World Bank, which Sunday released a report on the increasingly dire economic situation in areas under "Palestinian" control, including Gaza, Israel's "restrictions on Palestinian movement" are to blame.
The WB went so far as to applaud the Palestinian Authority which, it said, "has moved ahead with its economic reforms, albeit slowly."
Unless Israel likewise made an effort to remove roadblocks and other impediments to Arab movement, however, the economy in Judea and Samaria would contract, as it has in the Gaza Strip.
Since the "Palestinians" launched their Second Intifada in 2000, Israel has erected a network of checkpoints and gates in Judea and Samaria, effectively curtailing terrorism from these territories, but in the process putting a slowdown on the Palestinian Arab economy.
Like virtually every other international agency, the World Bank traditionally stands and speaks in favor of the Arab side to the Arab-Israeli conflict.