Middle East Aggregator

Israel is coming under concerted international pressure to give swift agreement to specific measures to improve Palestinian life in the West Bank which senior diplomats believe could eventually make or break negotiations between the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.

Efforts are under way to persuade Israel to agree ahead of President Bush's visit in just over two weeks' time to relaxing a series of restrictions on the Palestinian economy and testing the Ramallah-based authority's ability to take more responsibility for security in parts of the West Bank.

Israel is expected to face sharp criticism at Friday's international donors' conference in London for not doing more to boost the Palestinian economy after circulation of a World Bank paper reporting zero growth in 2007 and arguing that that the "contributing effects of the closures and movement restrictions cannot be overestimated".

While the growth levels are compounded by the near total collapse of Gaza's economy, the World Bank paper also emphasises the marked increase since 2005 of checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank. The proposals now being urged on Israel include the removal of checkpoints in the West Bank itemised in a detailed list submitted to Israel two weeks ago by Tony Blair, as international Middle East envoy, as well as easing the remaining restrictions in the way of completing the economic development and industrial park projects also earmarked by Mr Blair. The Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, has yet to give his formal response to the checkpoint list. (Independent)

Labels: Israel, Palestine, World Bank

The Palestinian economy won't grow this year, largely due to Israeli restrictions on movement and despite billions of dollars in aid meant to shore up support for peace talks, the World Bank predicted Sunday.

The bleak prognosis stands in contrast to the bank's initial assessment that double-digit economic growth would be possible if Israel, the Palestinian government and the donors did their part.

The bank now estimates that the Gross Domestic Product - currently at about $4 billion - will grow by only 3 percent in 2008.

"That, taking into account population growth, leaves per capita income static, if not lower than the previous year," the report said.

The bank noted that the Gaza economy has sharply contracted because of the virtually complete closure of the Gaza strip by Israel and Egypt after the violent Hamas takeover there last year. In the West Bank, where Israel maintains a network of hundreds of checkpoints, gates and earthen barriers, GDP growth was only modest, the bank said. (AP)

Labels: Israel, Palestine, World Bank

The World Bank has come up with what it calls a "new plan" for easing the crisis confronting tens of millions of people around the world.

The escalating price of staple crops like rice and wheat has put them at risk of starvation as well as triggering further social unrest.

With help from its twin institution, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank has called for richer nations to contribute $500 million to ease the burden.

The semi-annual sessions of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC usually deal with abstract financial issues.

But the sharp rise in food prices, aggravated by new export curbs by leading rice producers, has put these economic policymakers on high alert.

Robert Zoellick, the World Bank president, told the gathering: "Based on a very rough analysis, we estimate that doubling of food prices over the last three years could potentially push 100 million people in low-income countries deeper into poverty."

He said the food crisis could mean "seven lost years" in the fight against worldwide poverty. (Al Jazeera)

Labels: IMF, World Bank

Governments in the Middle East and North Africa need to invest now if they want to avoid severe water shortages in the future, the World Bank has warned.

The amount of water available per person in the arid region will halve by 2050, a report from the bank estimates.

It blames climate change and population growth for new pressures on supplies.

Governments in the region should tackle water waste, build more efficient networks and reduce water use, the World Bank says.

The bank's report suggests agriculture is a key target area.

With 85% of water-use devoted to agriculture, the report suggests countries such as Morocco will have to cut back on irrigation and switch to crops that require less water but earn more money. (BBC)

Labels: Water, World Bank

It's the start of the school day and hundreds of small children squeeze into the dusty playground.

Shrill orders pour out of a rusty loudspeaker screwed onto the wall. The children dutifully shuffle into line, open up their lungs and bellow their allegiance to God and Egypt.

The school day at Othman Bin-Affan Primary School has begun.

First there is a prayer from the Koran and then there is the National Anthem.

The children shout and clap and turn on the spot as the loudspeaker crackles and spits, exhorting the pupils to listen, repeat and obey.

The last few stragglers are let in to a school that's so full that it is forced to operate two shifts a day.

Two thousand children start the day at eight in the morning and another 2,000 begin shortly after lunch.

The average class size is more than 60 and the facilities are poor. (Link)

Labels: Education, World Bank