A'as Atrash explores the extensive negative impact of Israeli settlements on the Palestinian population in the occupied West Bank, affecting various aspects of life, including production, trade, services, and overall living standards and income distribution.

The study specifically addresses the economic losses incurred due to these settlements, emphasizing the substantial restrictions on Palestinian movement and the confiscation of natural resources, which account for an estimated 10.2% of the West Bank’s GDP. Atrash notes that these calculations consider not just the value of the natural resources but also their contribution to the overall GDP and the income generated for laborers, vital for driving the economy.

The research categorizes the economic losses into direct and indirect types across several sectors. The agricultural sector faces annual losses of approximately $153 million, while the industrial sector sees losses amounting to $212.7 million. Tourism and construction sectors also experience significant annual losses of $63 million and $60 million, respectively, totaling an annual loss of $488.7 million.

Additionally, the study reveals that indirect losses in the labor market amount to about $385.3 million at current prices. Atrash suggests that these figures likely underestimate the actual losses, as it is challenging to calculate the full extent of the damages, especially in the service, industry, and trade sectors, due to limited data. Some costs, which overlap with other occupation practices, are also difficult to attribute solely to the settlements.

About the author

A ‘as Atrash: a scholar with a doctorate in population studies and labor economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is the director of the Jaffa Institute for Research and Surveys. His academic pursuits have included a tenure as a lecturer in the Department of Economics at An-Najah National University and a previous role as the director of the College of Engineering in Ibilin. Atrash is a prolific author, with significant contributions such as “Arab Industrial Initiatives in Israel,” “Unemployment among the Arabs,” and “Arab Industry.” His extensive research portfolio also includes studies like “The Impact of the National Dimension of Economic Policies on the Distribution of Income and Poverty among Arabs.”