The Palestinian Economy And Prospects For Regional Cooperation

Ouvrage intégralement en anglais This book addresses many diversified issues linked with regional cooperation in the Eastern countries of the Mediterranean area. It focuses mainly on three main fields : the concept of regional cooperation and the related public policy, the economic and business cooperation and the technological, social, cultural, and environmental and security aspects of regional cooperation.

Much has been written about the Arab–Israeli conflict, the prospects for peace or war and the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state, side by side with the state of Israel. The emphasis, however, has been on the political processes of such eventualities. The objectives of this book complement these previous efforts, the central concern being with the economic aspects of these various solutions. In particular, it is concerned with the economic feasibility of a state of Palestine. What minimum conditions must be met for it to survive and prosper? What size population can it support, what boundaries should it have and what period of time must elapse before the full potential and viability of such a state can be realized? The book is set in the context of the general theory of the economic feasibility of small nation states and the economic analysis is illustrated by comparison and contrast between countries from various regions and periods. The authors look in turn at appropriate boundaries for a Palestinian state, the people and land that will constitute it, the potential of the economy in terms of income, employment and investment, and also the Palestinian state within the regional context and the implications of making the Palestinian economy a part of the larger region of the Middle East. A final chapter summarizes the findings and notes the areas which require deeper study to appreciate the economic viability of the Palestinian state.

The objectives of the Network Unimed-Forum are : to develop co-operation between students and researchers of the universities of the Mediterranean area ; publication of researches ; the creation of a network of universities of Unimed-Forum ; to make known the work of the regional organizations (Regional Council, General Council...) to the potential decision makers of the Mediterranean. The seminars are organized every year in order to help to reinforce the image of PACA Region and the Universities and the links between the students of PACA and all the Unversities of the mediterranean participating in the research programs integrated within its several universities.

The foundations for a viable, self-sustaining Palestinian economy have not emerged since the start of the Oslo peace process. Economic conditions in the Gaza Strip and West Bank have deteriorated markedly, leaving the Palestinian economy weaker now than it was in 1967 when measured against the advances made by other states in the region.The reasons for Palestinian economic decline are many but turn on one key issue: Israeli closure policy. Closure restricts the movement of labor and goods and distorts rational economic activity. Now a permanent feature of the local economy, closure has resulted in the physical and economic separation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and their separation from Israel, high unemployment, permanent unemployment for a growing segment of the labor force, a doubling of poverty levels, increasing child labor, constrained trade relations, and a growing need for relief and social assistance among Palestinians. Closure has devastated Palestinian economic growth and reform and has made it increasingly difficult for people to meet their basic needs. If closure continues to be enforced, the economic and political changes promised by the Oslo agreements and now so desperately needed in the West Bank and Gaza will not be possible

The aim of this research is to investigate the current situation and the challenges facing the Palestinian economic development. The study will examine the hypothesis that economic development is not possible due to major obstacles facing the Palestinian economy. Some of these obstacles are exogenous: (The Israeli Obstacles, Dangers of decreasing the International Aids and Risk of continuous American Policy). The others are endogenous: (the absence of a comprehensive development visions and strategy. To the extant that many Palestinians perceive the PNA as corrupt and inefficient, Bureaucracy; stumble and nepotism, Labor Force and Problems of Investment and Creating Business). While the fundamental constrain to development of Palestinian economy related to the fact that Palestinian people do not have a real state; The Palestinian Territory is treated as a politically independent, as though it is the Palestinian aspirations, but the fact on the ground is different. The Palestinian territory has effectively remained since 1967, and even since the signing of the Oslo agreement in 1993, under the economic and political control of Israel. Not surprisingly, the Palestinian economy therefore depending on the Israel's criteria that can regulate in the light of its own sovereign interests. Assuming the removal of these obstacles, what will happen to the process of economic development? Various scenarios will be examined, under the assumption that some of these obstacles will be removed. What is the possible impact of removing some of these obstacles? The study will focus on major issues such as recent economic performance, the prospect of cooperation in the region.

"War, border closures, violence, and unemployment have hampered the Palestinian economy for over a decade. Despite these obstacles and setbacks, the future outlook is optimistic." Based on the research of the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS), the World Bank, and other organizations, 'Development Under Adversity' reviews the development of the Palestinian economy since the 1993 Declaration of Principles. The Palestinian economy has enormous potential. Its general development indicators, including life expectancy, literacy, and child mortality rates, are among the best in the Middle East and North Africa. The book identifies the conditions under which the Palestinian economy can grow. They include trade channels that reduce the economy's reliance on Israel; the creation of a more efficient civil service; more investment-oriented public expenditure; and more resourceful support from NGOs in the delivery of health, education, welfare, and infrastructure services. 'Development Under Adversity' provides historical background, an objective examination of recent economic and political developments, and a comprehensive analysis of the contribution that the donor community can make toward alleviating poverty. Throughout its analysis, the book focuses on the human consequences of economic uncertainty. It studies the social and household costs of border closures, and includes complete chapters about the education and health sectors. The result is a book that will be relevant to a wide range of institutional and private lenders, as well as to anyone with a general interest in the well-being and future of the Palestinian economy.