- Title: WEST BANK: Hebron economy slumps, as Israel imposes closure in search for teens
- Date: 23rd June 2014
- Summary: HEBRON, WEST BANK (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS CLOSING ENTRANCE OF HEBRON VARIOUS OF VEHICLES IN LINE AT ENTRANCE OF HEBRON WHERE ISRAELI SOLDIERS CHECKING VEHICLES HEBRON, WEST BANK (JUNE 21, 2014) (REUTERS) VEHICLES DOWNTOWN HEBRON VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF HEBRON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY PALESTINIAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF HEBRON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, GHAZI AL HERBAWEE, SAYING: "It is known that the permits (to enter Israel) of Hebron's businessmen and workers were frozen; also Hebronites are not allowed to travel out of Palestine. And the closure does not allow the people of Hebron to move across the West Bank. All of this caused economic losses." LOGO OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF HEBRON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, GHAZI AL HERBAWEE, SAYING: "The people of Hebron are not allowed to go out, and all of Hebron's main entrances are closed so no one can come into Hebron. All of that caused economic losses that we can't count but we assume that we are losing dozens of million Shekel everyday." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN HEBRON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT FROM HEBRON, MAJID ABU SUBAIH, SAYING: "For sure the attack has negative effects on the economic and the commercial situation in the city. The economic condition in the city are unsustainable. No one can live like this." PEOPLE IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT FROM HEBRON, AMJAD SHAWAR, SAYING: "The customer traffic that the merchants of Hebron depend on is from the Palestinians and from other cities in the West Bank. This closure has affected the economy directly, and there are big losses." VARIOUS OF SHOP EMPTY OF SHOPPERS MERCHANT IN SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MERCHANT FROM HEBRON, KAMIL ASHOUR, SAYING: "Before, the situation was much better but today with the closure there is no movement. We are even selling without covering our overhead costs." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AND VEHICLE IN DOWNTOWN
- Embargoed: 8th July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: International Relations,Economy,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9I8I0YUBQM5YDG3W5VZZ1NLGL
- Story Text: The suspected abduction of three young Israelis earlier this month has dealt a devastating blow to the fragile Palestinian economy in the West Bank, according to the head of the Hebron Chamber of Commerce.
Mohamed Ghazi Al Herbawee said that Hebron is "losing millions everyday" after the Israelis sealed off Hebron as it steps up its search for the missing Israelis, which includes an American-Israeli teenager.
"It is known that the permits (to enter Israel) of Hebron's businessmen and workers were frozen; also Hebronites are not allowed to travel out of Palestine. And the closure does not allow the people of Hebron to move across the West Bank. All of this caused economic losses," Mohamed Ghazi Al Herbawee said.
Hebron is an important commercial centre in the West Bank, and the closures are having an impact far beyond the city.
"The people of Hebron are not allowed to go out, and all of Hebron's main entrances are closed so no one can come into Hebron. All of that caused economic losses that we can't count but we assume that we are losing dozens of million Shekels everyday," added Al Herbawee, who is also an economic expert.
Hebron's normally bustling streets were quiet on Saturday (June 21), leaving merchants to count their losses and residents worrying about the future.
"For sure the attack has negative effects on the economic and the commercial situation in the city. The economic condition in the city is unsustainable. No one can live like this," said Hebron resident, Majid Abu Subaih.
"The customer traffic that the merchants of Hebron depend on is from the Palestinians and from other cities in the West Bank. This closure has affected the economy directly, and there are big losses," said Amjad Shawar, from Hebron.
The crisis has put pressure on a unity pact between Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas, an Islamist group sworn to Israel's destruction. Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the June 13 disappearance of the youths.
"Before, the situation was much better but today with the closure there is no movement. We are even selling without covering our overhead costs," said Kamil Ashour, who owns a clothing shop.
Israel has said its West Bank operation is twofold - to find Gil-Ad Shaer and U.S.-Israeli national Naftali Fraenkel, both aged 16, and Eyal Yifrah, 19, who went missing near an Israeli settlement on June 13, and to deal a substantial blow to Hamas.
The search for the missing Israelis has seen the military launch its most extensive operation in the West Bank in years after a long period of relative calm.
More than 300 Palestinians have been arrested and hundreds of homes and buildings have been raided, triggering street clashes in which four Palestinians have been killed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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