More than 54 years of Israeli occupation have had a cumulative, multilayered, and inter-generational impact on the Palestinian society, economy and environment. During this protracted period, military operations, policies, measures and practices have led to the deterioration of social and economic conditions of the Palestinians, and to de-development in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). They have also resulted in entrenching an asymmetric dependency of the Palestinian economy on Israel and in exacerbating aid dependency. These policies and practices have come to constitute a matrix of control and domination, and many of them violate international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
A draft study prepared by ESCWA aimed to examine Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory. Rather than assessing the impact of each policy or practice individually, it approaches these policies as being part of one strategy, or matrix, aiming at maintaining and consolidating control and domination. It also seeks to map the impact of these policies on the main components of the Palestinian economy (resources, infrastructure and access to markets).
ESCWA held an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) to discuss the issues presented in the study in the wider context of understanding the dynamics of Israeli policies and their structural impact on the Palestinian economy. It also seeks to solicit suggestions regarding activities and research topics that ESCWA can undertake to support the Palestinian people in the attainment of their rights.
Amman, Jordan
