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Israel vs Palestine: World War 3! (pg. 9)
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| jester |
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Palestinians do not have their own currency. From the West Bank to Gaza, purses and wallets are filled with Jordanian dinar, euros, dollars and Israeli shekels. Not surprisingly, many people want to revive their old currency – the Palestinian pound – from a time before their country came under Israeli control.
As governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority, Jihad al-Wazir is tasked with developing a formal Palestinian economy even before the establishment of a formal Palestinian state. The son of Fatah-founder Khalil al-Wazir (AKA Abu Jihad), al-Wazir's Ramallah-based team is the Palestinian Authority's Federal Reserve-to-be, charged with privatising banks, combating money laundering and encouraging economic growth. Meanwhile, a new Central Bank building is rising in Ramallah. Al-Wazir is also the man considering the return of the Palestinian pound. Monocle talked with him about fiscal policy and politics.
Monocle:There's been increasing talk about the return of the Palestinian pound. Can we expect its revival?
Jihad al-Wazir: Palestine is on the cusp of getting its own modern banking system and the Palestinian pound may return. Monocle talks to the governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority, Jihad al-Wazir, about changes being made to the economy.
As much as it would be an emotional achievement to re-establish the pound, this is an eventual – and not necessarily immediate – goal. Our main priority is establishing a monetary system best suited to economic development. It's easy to print pounds but we must ensure that people actually have the confidence to use them – and replace the shekels and euros in their pockets. We've seen the mistakes other small or developing countries have made with their own currencies and we're keen not to repeat them. We don't want to find ourselves in a situation like Zimbabwe, with bank notes covered in unending zeros. We see Palestine more like Hong Kong or Singapore – a strong, open and robust economy.
M: How can you ensure the stability of a Palestinian pound?
JW: We're exploring a series of options; everything from simply dollarising the economy to pegging the pound to a basket of currencies – perhaps the shekel, dollar and euro. Crucially, we're hard at work developing forecasting models to predict input and output capabilities in the Palestinian economy to make the right kinds of planning decisions.
M: Clearly the ongoing Israeli occupation hinders this process. What are some of the pressures you face developing a currency, formal Central Bank and economic policies while under Israeli control?
JW: There are many factors but the most critical is restriction of movement. The existing system of controlling roads and crossing points is a major obstacle to economic development. Palestine has the potential for double-digit economic growth but we are an export-oriented economy whose potential is wasted because we cannot get our goods to market. The capacity is certainly there – our growing season is longer than in Europe – but lengthy security inspection delays make it impossible for importers or wholesalers to have confidence in Palestinian partners.
M: You're friends with Stanley Fischer, governor of the Bank of Israel. How important is the relationship with Israel for the success of Palestine's economy?
JW: We already have a strong working relationship with the Central Bank of Israel because we are independent – outside of the political goings-on between the two sides. Already almost $5bn [€3.8bn] is transferred each year between ourselves and Israel. But any eventual peace treaty and establishment of two independent states must be based on transforming an inequality-based relationship into a true partnership of equals.
M: Can economic reforms be implemented in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas?
JW: We're charged with regulating banking in the West Bank and Gaza, where we've overseen the transfer of over $5bn [€3.8bn] since the split [in 2007]. But the biggest issue with Gaza and Hamas is money laundering and the transfer of funds to entities on [international terror] lists. We've established strong controls to build a firewall between the banking system and Hamas. Hamas is a cash-based culture; they're not used to operating within conventional banking sectors.
M: Is there a strong role for the Palestinian diaspora in reviving the economy?
JW: Palestinians are certainly returning to Palestine, particularly from the Persian Gulf. But we're also discovering thriving Palestinian communities in unlikely places such as Chile. So we must build stronger connections with these groups. It's happening – such as with new luxury villa projects aimed at diaspora residents who want to retire in Palestine.
M: Do you think that the US and other western nations have a responsibility to ensure the success of a Palestinian economy?
JW: I do. And they are. But for the moment the global donor community is really just compensating for the damage Israel is doing to our economy.
If you look at our economy prior to 2000 [the beginning of the second Intifada], we had a balanced budget and annual growth of 9 per cent. But a decade of Intifada – movement restrictions and [security] walls – has made it impossible for our economy to fulfil its potential.
Palestine is an important emerging market. We've been held back – foreign investors have often stayed away because of the risk premium associated with the country. But the fears are overstated because peace process or no peace process the Palestinian Stock Exchange is always open for business. — (M) |
(Courtesy of Monocle) |
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| hardcore trancer |
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http://www.haaretz.com/news/diploma...l-raid-1.316247
Jewish Gaza-bound activists: IDF used excessive force in naval raid
Israel Defense Forces soldiers used excessive force while taking over a Gaza-bound aid ship organized by Jewish and Israeli activists, the boat's passengers said Tuesday, countering the military's official version claiming that the takeover had been uneventful.
Earlier Tuesday the IDF reported that Israeli naval commandos peacefully boarded the Jewish aid boat attempting to break a naval blockade on Gaza, saying "IDF naval forces recently boarded the yacht 'Irene', and it is currently being led to the Ashdod seaport along with its passengers."
However, testimonies by passengers who were released from police questioning later in the day seemed to counter the IDF's claims, with Israeli activist and former Israel Air Force pilot Yonatan Shapira saying that there were "no words to describe what we went through during the takeover."
Shapira said the activists, who he said displayed no violence, were met with extreme IDF brutality, adding that the soldiers "just jumped us, and hit us. I was hit with a taser gun."
"Some of the soldiers treated us atrociously," Shapira said, adding that he felt there was a "huge gap between what the IDF spokesman is saying happened and what really happened."
The former IAF pilot said he and his fellow activists were "proud of the mission," saying it was organized "for the sake of a statement – that the siege on Gaza is a crime, that it's immoral, un-Jewish, and we have a moral obligation to speak out. Anyone who stays silent as this crime is being committed is an accessory to a crime."
Eli Usharov, a reporter for Israel's Channel 10 affirmed Shapira's version of the events, telling Haaretz that the takeover was executed with unnecessary brutality.
"They used a taser gun against Yonatan. He screamed and was dragged to the military boat," Usharov said, adding that both Yonatan and his brother Itamar were handcuffed.
The Channel 10 reporter also said that the activists managed to have a serious heart-to-heart conversation with the troops once they were all placed on board the military vessel, and that "overall the atmosphere was good."
Reuben Moscowitz, a Holocaust survivor who took part in the mission, expressed his disbelief that "Israeli soldiers would treat nine Jews this way. They just hit people."
"I as a Holocaust survivor cannot live with the fact that the State of Israel is imprisoning an entire people behind fences," Moscowitz said, adding that "it's just immoral."
"What happened to me in the Holocaust wakes me up every night and I hope we don't do the same thing to our neighbors," Moscowitz said, adding that he was comparing "what I went through during the Holocaust to what the besieged Palestinian children are going through." |
yet another case to show the brutality of the IDF. They even beat up their own people FFS. Can you imagine what they'll do people who are not Jewish? |
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| jester |
| quote: | Originally posted by hardcore trancer
yet another case to show the brutality of the IDF. They even beat up their own people FFS. |
Whats your point?
Pretty much every culture and religion. There is some sort of in fighting. Jews and Israelis are no different. The more secular open minded jews dislike the idea of the ultra-orthodox trying to force their way of life on people.
I wonder if Ahmadinejad going to use it for his propaganda.
At least Israel not biased if they beat their own people or people of the same faith. |
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| hardcore trancer |
| quote: | Originally posted by jester
Whats your point?
Pretty much every culture and religion. There is some sort of in fighting. Jews and Israelis are no different. The more secular open minded jews dislike the idea of the ultra-orthodox trying to force their way of life on people. |
Point being that Israel always claims to be very "democratic" in the region yet their actions always speaks otherwise.
| quote: | | I wonder if Ahmadinejad going to use it for his propaganda. |
I wouldnt be surprised if he does. At least someone in the world is speaking up against Israel's actions in the region and those voices are growing more and more. Believe me I aint no fan of Ahmadinejad but once in a while he does make a point. |
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| Comrade Stalin |
| quote: | Originally posted by hardcore trancer
Believe me I aint no fan of Ahmadinejad but once in a while he does make a point. |
But all his other outrageously stupid comments negate any good points he may have made. |
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| Magnetonium |
World War III indeed. A good article from a reputable source. There will never be peace in the region, until either the Jews or Arabs destroy the other one (or each other).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11464621
Israeli settlements on occupied land
* Nearly 500,000 settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, alongside 2.5 million Palestinians
* 20,000 settlers live in the Golan Heights
* Settlements and the area they take up cover 40% of the West Bank
* There are about 100 settlements not authorised by the Israeli government in the West Bank
• 62% under full Israeli control. This area contains all Israeli settlements, roads used by settlers, buffer zones and almost all of the Jordan Valley • 38% under Palestinian civil control. In more than half of this, Israel has security control • There are 149 settlements and 100 outposts (settlements not authorised by Israel) • Population: 2.4 million Palestinians, nearly 500,000 Jewish or Israeli settlers
West Bank mosque 'set alight by Jewish settlers'
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The attack left walls charred, books burned and graffiti scrawled on the walls
Israel is investigating Palestinian suspicions that a mosque in the West Bank was set alight by Jewish settlers.
Arsonists reportedly scrawled Hebrew graffiti on the walls of the mosque in Beit Fajjar, near Bethlehem.
The mayor of a nearby settlement condemned the attack and said those carrying it out must have been "extremists".
The assault comes as Palestinian-Israeli peace talks have faltered over the issue of settlements.
Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967, housing nearly 500,000 Jews in more than 100 settlements. Some 2.5 million Palestinians live in the West Bank.
Jewish settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
Failed investigations
Residents of Beit Fajjar said a group of settlers went into the mosque overnight and set fire to carpets and copies of the Koran.
Reports say the word "revenge" was scrawled on the wall in Hebrew.
A spokesman for the Israeli military said it was taking the burning of the mosque very seriously.
"We are doing the utmost in order to reach those law-breakers," army spokeswoman Avital Leibowitz told reporters in Tel Aviv.
eanwhile Shaul Goldstein, the mayor of Gush Etzion, a local settlement, told the BBC he condemned the attack.
While extremists were present in every society, he said, "they do not represent the entire society. The settlers are against it."
Previous Israeli investigations of mosque attacks have failed to produce results.
In April, a mosque was vandalised with Hebrew graffiti, cars were burnt and olive trees uprooted in the village of Hawara, near the Yitzhar settlement.
And in May, a mosque in the Palestinian village of Lubban al-Sharqiya, near Nablus, was gutted in a fire which also destroyed holy books.
No charges were brought against anyone in either case.
Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, came to inspect the damage and talk to the locals.
"The settlers' message is: terrorise the Palestinian people," he told Reuters news agency.
"Crimes like these do not terrorise the Palestinian people. On the contrary, such attacks will only embolden the Palestinian people and increase our determination to achieve all of our rights," he reportedly said after delivering a brief sermon.
'Price tag policy'
Some hard-line settlers advocate a "price tag" policy under which they attack Palestinians in retaliation for any Israeli government measure they see as threatening Jewish settlements.
The Palestinian leadership has said it will not continue peace talks with Israel unless a freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank resumes, after building started again last week.
Israel refused to extend a 10-month partial ban on settlement building in the West Bank which expired last Sunday.
Direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians resumed in September after a break of nearly two years. |
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| hardcore trancer |
| quote: | Originally posted by Magnetonium
World War III indeed. A good article from a reputable source. There will never be peace in the region, until either the Jews or Arabs destroy the other one (or each other).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11464621
Israeli settlements on occupied land
* Nearly 500,000 settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, alongside 2.5 million Palestinians
* 20,000 settlers live in the Golan Heights
* Settlements and the area they take up cover 40% of the West Bank
* There are about 100 settlements not authorised by the Israeli government in the West Bank
• 62% under full Israeli control. This area contains all Israeli settlements, roads used by settlers, buffer zones and almost all of the Jordan Valley • 38% under Palestinian civil control. In more than half of this, Israel has security control • There are 149 settlements and 100 outposts (settlements not authorised by Israel) • Population: 2.4 million Palestinians, nearly 500,000 Jewish or Israeli settlers
West Bank mosque 'set alight by Jewish settlers'
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That is soo ed. These settlers have got to be stopped. How can Israel possibly imagine a peace deal? Israel forcing the Palestinians to accept the peace dealwith their rules and conditions. Tell me how that is fair to the Palestinian people? |
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| hardcore trancer |
Not sure if any of you had chance to go hear George Galloway's speach on Sunday,for those that wanted to hear what he has to say here is the full length video of his speach from Sunday:
http://livestre.am/oP5r
It was a great speach and nice slap in the face for the Harper Government. |
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| geroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sly_Guy
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| quote: | Originally posted by geroin
the trend in this picture is obvious, complete elimination of palestine state within our lifetime. The last picture shows mostly israeli settlements in palestine region which are increasing all the time.
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| jester |
Don't get me wrong. I do want the settlements to stop. It be one less headache / roadblock for some sort of conclusion, for some sort of peace.
As for the mosque being burnt and tagged. Was bound to happen. I think more synagogues have been tagged and fire bombed all over the world than mosques. I am against people going after someone place of worship, but some people need a taste of their own medicine.
If both side want a quick conclusion. Jerusalem should fall under NATO-UN control. Turn it into another Vatican city of some sort. Which will upset both sides, but who cares. If they want peace. No one has the right to Jerusalem.
One thing... George's lawsuit will never standup in court. |
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| hardcore trancer |
Oh this looks good. :) :) :) thanks for sharing.;) |
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