Palestinian economic (under)development: the hurdles

The Palestinians and Israelis have embarked on the road to peace. However, in recent years, violence has erupted between Palestinians and Israelis and the incursions of Israeli military forces into Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has seen a dramatic increase in poverty within the Palestinian Territories. The biggest factors in the Palestinian economic underdevelopment issue are insecurity and ideology. This article examins the Palestinian economic underdevelopment. It concludes by arguing that the hurdles that confront Palestinian decision-makers with regard to economic development are considerable. In addition, the Israeli separation strategy does not represent a realistic solution to the deepening Palestinian economic underdevelopment problem, which remains central to the resolution of the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis. At present, no viable strategies to promote Palestinian economic development are evident, leaving the economic future of the Palestinian people uncertain and little hope for a final resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.