Palestinian Workers Feel the Burden of Israeli Settlements

A Growing Concern in the West Bank

Jenin, West Bank - As Israel’s government considers ceding limited jurisdiction to the Palestinian Authority, concerns are growing that ceasing Israeli business activity in settlements may force the layoff of Palestinian workers. While some see settlement businesses as models of coexistence or an alternative path to peace through economic cooperation, human rights groups argue that even if employment opportunities exist, they do not justify Israel’s continued occupation and discrimination against Palestinians.

The Human Rights Perspective

“The cumulative impact of Israeli discrimination is to entrench a system that contributes to the impoverishment of many Palestinian residents of the West Bank while directly benefiting settlement businesses,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The desperate need for jobs should not be used to justify continued complicity in that discrimination.”

The Economic Reality

In Area C, most of which is under Israeli military control, restrictions on Palestinian movement and access to land have led to a significant decline in the economy, resulting in high levels of unemployment and poverty.

• “Agricultural villagers like ourselves have lost our traditional livelihoods due to Israel’s unlawful policies,” said Mahmoud al-Khatib, head of the village council of Marda. “We’re forced to seek employment in settlements just to survive.”
• The World Bank estimates that these restrictions cost the Palestinian economy $3.4 billion annually.

Calls for Action

Human Rights Watch is urging businesses operating in or with settlements to cease their activities and for states to review their trade practices to ensure they are consistent with international law.

• “States have a duty not to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories,” said Whitson. “They should require clear origin labeling on settlement goods, exclude them from preferential tariff treatment, and refrain from recognizing any certification of such goods by Israeli authorities.”
• The organization is also calling on Israel to dismantle settlements, lift discriminatory restrictions on Palestinians, and cease providing financial incentives to businesses operating in the occupied territories.

Response from the Palestinian Authority

In response to the report’s findings, the Palestinian Authority has pledged to continue advocating for the rights of Palestinian workers and to work towards a more equitable economic arrangement with Israel.