Palestine economy plan takes shape
Southern Shuneh, Jordan – United States Secretary of State John Kerry said today that he believes a plan is emerging that could expand the Palestinian economy by up to 50 per cent in the next three years.
It could also cut unemployment by almost two- thirds, and average wages could jump 40 per cent, he said. But it all depended on parallel progress on peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Kerry has been working with former British prime minister Tony Blair and global business leaders to devise economic plans to revitalise the Palestinian economy. There were few specific details offered.
Kerry spoke at a business conference in Jordan alongside Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
He called the plan ‘‘ transformative’’ and ‘‘ different than anything we’ve done before’’. It is expected to address tourism, construction, light manufacturing, agriculture and communications opportunities.
Kerry acknowledged that the plan offered a very optimistic vision for a region that has suffered through decades of conflict, and where peace prospects remain dim. But he insisted: ‘‘ We know it can be done.’’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas supported the plan, but economic plans would not take hold unless Israel and the Palestinians made headway on restarting peace talks, he said.
Kerry has been trying over the past two months to rejuvenate the peace process. He has not made any tangible success so far, but insists he is engaged in productive talks with both sides.
Today, Peres urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to overcome their differences and resume peace negotiations, saying the sides could not afford to lose this opportunity.
‘‘ We shouldn’t lose the opportunity because it will be replaced by a great disappointment.’’
Peace talks broke down
almost five years ago, in large part because of disagreements over Israeli settlement construction on occupied territories claimed by the Palestinians.
The Palestinians say there is no point in negotiating while Israel continues to build Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, undermining their quest to set up an independent state. The Palestinians want both areas, captured by Israel in 1967, as parts of a future state.
Kerry said both sides had to move towards direct negotiations.
Peres sounded upbeat and determined to help. He has scheduled meetings with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, whose country maintains cordial ties with Israel under a peace treaty signed in 1994, and possibly Abbas, who is also attending the World Economic Forum.
During his fourth visit to the Middle East since taking office in February, Kerry held talks with Netanyahu and Abbas last week. Jordanian officials said privately he was expected to meet Peres and Abbas while in Jordan. New Delhi – Indian officials reacted with outrage today to an audacious attack by about 200 suspected Maoist rebels who killed 24 people by setting off a bomb and firing on a convoy carrying ruling party leaders and members in the insurgency- wracked central state of Chhattisgarh.
Saturday’s ambush by Naxalite rebels, which targeted Congress party politicians returning from a campaign event, appeared to be a warning to officials to stay away from the rebels’ main base of support.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi visited some of the 37 people injured in the attack in hospital in the state capital, Raipur, yesterday and said the government would take firm action against the perpetrators.
Rajnath Singh, president of the opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, said the country should unite in its fight against the Maoist insurgency.
Four state party leaders and eight police officers were among the 24 people killed.