São Paulo – The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released a report this Monday (21) asserting that the occupation of Palestinian territories bears a heavy economic brunt and “denies the Palestinian people their human right to development.” The paper will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly in the last week of this month, UNCTAD has said. <\/p>\n
According to the report, since the occupation, in 1967, Palestinians never had sovereign control over its economy, its natural resources and its territory. Moreover, Palestinians are denied freedom of movement in their homeland, and are prohibited from farming and engaging in trade and social interaction within their own communities and with the rest of the world. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, UNCTAD says, Israeli settlements in Palestinian land are increasing, as are settler numbers. The UN agency reports that 61% of West Bank territory is under Israeli control and inaccessible to Palestinian farmers. In Gaza, locals have no access to 50% of farmable land and to 85% of fishing resources. More than 2.5 million fruit-bearing trees have been cut down since 1967.<\/p>\n
UNCTAD warns that the Palestinian government and farmers are not allowed to build or keep water wells, while “the occupying Power” has drawn more water than set forth in the Oslo Accords, and is therefore confiscating the resources. “As such, occupation policies have deformed the structure of the Palestinian economy and set in motion a continuous process of de-agriculturalization and de-industrialization,” an UNCTAD press release reads.<\/p>\n
The report adds that Israel’s three attacks on Gaza from 2008 to 2014 have led to losses estimated to amount to three times the size of the territory’s annual output. <\/p>\n
UNCTAD believes the Palestinian economy could “easily” be twice its current size. It notes, however, that studies carried out so far are superficial and do not reveal the full cost of the occupation. <\/p>\n
The agency calls on the General Assembly to establish a system to gauge the occupation’s impact on the economy on a regular basis. It claims this is a key step in seeking compliance with the UN’s sustainable development goals in Palestinian territories. <\/p>\n
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/strong><\/p>\n