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As Violence Subsides, Concrete Pours in West Bank
By Luis Ramirez
Jenin, West Bank
30 June 2009
Israel has said it wants to boost the economy of the Palestinian territories as a way to bring peace. The Israeli leadership has not implemented any specific plan to improve economic conditions, yet the territories are experiencing a marked economic upturn as a halt in violence leads to increased trade and investment.
West Bank's economy
A woman in Islamic veil, speaking in Arabic, has a gleaming smile as she explains she is having trouble deciding on which dish set to buy. She browses through a glitzy showroom boasting European and American brands in a scene that might appear to be a shopping mall in Dubai, Qatar, or New York. In fact, it is Jenin, in the West Bank.
The town until recently was known as a bastion of suicide bombers. But now, with this brand new million-dollar department store, and a shopping mall in the blueprints, Jenin is becoming a haven for shoppers for women like Afaf Rahal, a Palestinian schoolteacher.
She says when she used to go to Amman and other places, she would hope that Palestinians would one day build a department store like this in the West Bank. She says she thanks God her expectations have been exceeded.
The Herbawi department store in Jenin, which was built with Arab investment, is part of what analysts say is a boom that is occurring in the West Bank despite the global slowdown.
They say the reason is security conditions have improved, allowing the wheels of commerce to turn.
Afaf Rahal, a Palestinian schoolteacher, shopping in Herbawi department store in Jenin, 30 Jun 2009
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VOA News - As Violence Subsides, Concrete Pours in West Bank
Interesting, in Gaza terrorist groups constantly launch attacks against Israel and even against the very border crossings that they want Israel to allow goods to go through. The attacks force Israel to close those crossings and goods can't go in or out. And in the West Bank there is relative peace, and less terror attacks so there is greater freedom of movement and the economy can grow.
So the choice facing Palestinians couldn't be clearer. Support terror and live like they do in Gaza, or stop terror and enjoy more and more freedom and economic prosperity.
Maybe terror isn't the solution...