West Bank Palestinians Face Economic Crisis as Israel Slashes Work Permits
Thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are facing dire economic circumstances after Israel revoked their permits to work inside its borders. This drastic reduction in work authorisations has plunged many families into poverty, forcing them to sell possessions, accumulate debt, or risk illegal entry into Israel for employment.
Personal Stories of Hardship
Hanadi Abu Zant exemplifies the crisis. She has been unable to pay rent for nearly a year since losing her job at an Israeli food-packing plant. "My biggest fear is being kicked out of my home. Where will we sleep, on the street?" she said, describing how she hides in a mosque when her landlord calls the police.
Shuhrat Barghouthi's husband is imprisoned for attempting to cross Israel's separation barrier to find work. The couple, once earning $5,700 monthly in Israel, are now unemployed and $14,000 in debt. "Come and see my refrigerator, it's empty, there's nothing to feed my children," she lamented, noting her children often go to bed hungry and sick.
Economic Impact and Statistics
The revocation affects approximately 100,000 Palestinians following Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack. According to Gisha, an Israeli advocacy group, fewer than 10,000 permits have been reinstated. Unemployment in the West Bank has surged to nearly 30%, a sharp increase from the pre-war rate of around 12%.
Before the conflict, wages earned in Israel injected about $4 billion annually into the Palestinian economy, equivalent to two-thirds of the Palestinian Authority's budget. The World Bank warns the West Bank economy is at risk of collapse due to these restrictions.
Security and Policy Context
Israel, which has controlled the West Bank since 1967, states that permitting Palestinian workers is based solely on security considerations. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, emphasised that Palestinians do not have an inherent right to enter Israel.
However, thousands of Palestinians still work in Israeli settlements across the West Bank, with over 65% retaining their permits. These settlements are viewed as illegal by most of the international community. Workers there report increased security measures and arbitrary permit revocations.
Broader Consequences and Alternatives
The permit crackdown has led to a rise in black-market permits, with brokers charging triple the usual price. Tens of thousands are believed to be working illegally in Israel, risking arrest or violence. Meanwhile, Israelis have turned to foreign workers, though employers like developer Raphael Dadush note they are more costly and less efficient.
Assaf Adiv, an Israeli labour rights advocate, warned that without economic integration, the situation could lead to "chaos." He stated, "The alternative to work in Israel is starvation and desperation." The deepening crisis highlights the fragile interdependence between the Israeli economy and Palestinian livelihoods in the region.
