"The Palestinian government and private sector want to continue cooperative economic relationships with their counterparts in Israel, for the benefit of both sides," said new PA Minister of Economy and Trade Mazen Sunuqrut, who has replaced Maher al-Masri.
"As an industrialist and scion of the private sector, who has many Israeli partners, I emphasize that the new Palestinian government is a government of technocrats that operates in accordance with professional criteria, and has an economic agenda based on promoting the private sector," said Sunuqrut.
Sunuqrut added that the Palestinian private sector wanted to continue its economic relations with Israelis, and was committed to doing so. However, he claims that Israel is raising obstacles to cooperation, through its policy of limiting economic cooperation. Israel is not granting permits for Palestinian workers and businesspeople to enter Israeli territory, is continuing to restrict movement between Palestinian cities, unilaterally closed the Erez industrial zone on the border of the Gaza Strip, and is building the separation fence.
"The Palestinian government and private sector are committed to change, in order to achieve economic development. The private sector is the main engine for growth throughout the world. But to achieve real cooperation with Israel, it must change its policies that damage the economy," said Sunuqrut.
As a foundation for Israeli-Palestinian economic dialogue, Sunuqrut proposed adopting World Bank recommendations for measures both sides should take to rebuild the Palestinian economy.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on March 27, 2005