Palestinian economy: The fifth "giveaway" - Michael Horesh Business Coach and Mentor

Last week’s blog on “4 takeaways of the Palestinian economy” highlighted how so much money seeps into Gaza and the West Bank. Yet so little is accountable and so much seems to escape the notice of Western donors.

As one person commented that rather than ‘takeaways’, this is a policy of “giveaways”! And thus on that note, I would like to apply one more comment to this huge generosity from Western taxpayers.

Alex Fishman wrote a detailed commentary this weekend on the continuing tension between Gaza and Israel. While the government of Jerusalem is investing billions in new tech to prevent tunnels reaching its territory, Hamas has upped the level of digging and shoveling beyond anything previously known. 50 or so terrorists – captured, or those that gave themselves up – have spilt the beans on what is being dug, where, by whom and how.

But let me concentrate on the financials and stats that Fishman alluded to:

To date, in 2016, it is estimated that Hamas has channeled up to 300 million nis towards the tunnels. (About US80 m)
Approximately 20% of the Hamas budget is allocated to military needs.
Despite Egyptian efforts, Hamas still has around 10 or so tunnels pointing in the direction of Cairo. (It is worth recalling, Egypt is furious that ISIS operators in Sinai receive regular support from Hamas, including escape routes and medical treatment.)
The tunnel creation is a 24/7 project that has already cost at least 20 lives this year alone.
Roughly 5,000 Hamas militia are being trained for ‘tunnel warfare’, more than double the total available in 2014.

Now Fishman did not offer any directs sources to substantiate these facts. However, I think it reasonable to state that Hamas are up to no good. These tunnels are designed to cause injury and destruction.

So, where does the concrete come from? Lorries enter from Israel, ostensibly with raw materials for new homes. Oh come off it!!! No wonder, UNWRA complains that home building is behind schedule.

And where does the financing come from? Strange how that question never seems to be asked in European Parliaments………..even if these same governments give hundreds of millions directly and indirectly every year to Gaza and to the West Bank?

Pages

Palestinian economy: The fifth “giveaway”

0 comments

Reply

"Michael transformed the way I think and approach working, and also how to monetize my social media and communal projects."

"Michael helped my high tech company take off."

"Michael has been an invaluable resource to me throughout all of the steps of starting up my business."

“Working with Michael Horesh is like having root canal treatment, marriage counselling and business coaching all rolled into one, successfully.”