The continuing blockade of Jerusalem and the rest of Israel to Palestinians since 1993 has reduced the West Bank and Gaza Strip to economic penury. The expanded total blockade which has been in effect since February has resulted in an estimated unemployment rate of now over 50%. For every day of total closure, the Palestinian Authority estimates losses at $6 million. The economic devastation of the general and now expanded blockade, and the continual loss of Palestinian land to Jewish settlements and roads, have threatened more than anything else the stability of the West Bank and Gaza strip. This type of blockade, which essentially restricts or ends trade, prevents laborers from going to their place of work, and blocks 2.5 million Palestinians from their economic, political, cultural and religious capital is a form of collective punishment. Collective punishment is expressly prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention article 33 and the right to work is also protected by article 39.
LAW, P.O. Box 20873, Jerusalem Tel: (972)(2) 5812364/5824559
Fax: (972)(2) 5811072
email: lawe@netvision.net.il The LAW Homepage was launched August 7,1997 design Jeff Flynn, Jennifer Moorehead and Adam Hanieh
