This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8647487.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Palestinians mull Jewish work ban | Palestinians mull Jewish work ban |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Many Palestinians don't see they have any other choice but to work on Israeli settlements By Tim Franks BBC News, Har Gilo | Many Palestinians don't see they have any other choice but to work on Israeli settlements By Tim Franks BBC News, Har Gilo |
It may only be April, but on the exposed hillside settlement of Har Gilo it already feels very hot. | It may only be April, but on the exposed hillside settlement of Har Gilo it already feels very hot. |
Perhaps for that reason not many people are out and about in this small, middle-class, Jewish enclave in the West Bank between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. | Perhaps for that reason not many people are out and about in this small, middle-class, Jewish enclave in the West Bank between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. |
And most of those who are walking around have, perhaps surprisingly, Palestinian faces. | And most of those who are walking around have, perhaps surprisingly, Palestinian faces. |
They are a group of construction workers, who laugh when you mention the Israeli government's self-declared "freeze" on building in settlements. | They are a group of construction workers, who laugh when you mention the Israeli government's self-declared "freeze" on building in settlements. |
The PA doesn't care about its people. If they don't want us to work in the settlements, they should invest in us instead Najah Saadi | The PA doesn't care about its people. If they don't want us to work in the settlements, they should invest in us instead Najah Saadi |
Najah Saadi operates a pile-driver. | Najah Saadi operates a pile-driver. |
He has worked in Har Gilo five days a week for the last two years, commuting from his home in Ramallah. | He has worked in Har Gilo five days a week for the last two years, commuting from his home in Ramallah. |
"I'm not happy about working here," he says. "But I don't feel I have a choice." | "I'm not happy about working here," he says. "But I don't feel I have a choice." |
He says he has a large family to support. "If I work in Ramallah I get a quarter of what I earn here on the settlements." | He says he has a large family to support. "If I work in Ramallah I get a quarter of what I earn here on the settlements." |
Mr Saadi has little time for the talk from the Palestinian Authority of a ban on Palestinians working in settlements. | Mr Saadi has little time for the talk from the Palestinian Authority of a ban on Palestinians working in settlements. |
"They can't do that," he states baldly. | "They can't do that," he states baldly. |
"The PA doesn't care about its people. If they don't want us to work in the settlements, they should invest in us instead." | "The PA doesn't care about its people. If they don't want us to work in the settlements, they should invest in us instead." |
Cheap labour | |
A little further down the road Ilia Saditsky, an Israeli construction manager, is poring over blueprints with a Palestinian worker for eighteen new cottages which he plans to start building in the next few months. | A little further down the road Ilia Saditsky, an Israeli construction manager, is poring over blueprints with a Palestinian worker for eighteen new cottages which he plans to start building in the next few months. |
All of his builders will be Palestinians from the West Bank, he says. | All of his builders will be Palestinians from the West Bank, he says. |
Mr Saditsky describes them as "hungry for work". | Mr Saditsky describes them as "hungry for work". |
"Even if they weren't so cheap, we'd still want to use them because they work so hard." | "Even if they weren't so cheap, we'd still want to use them because they work so hard." |
It is a shame to be part of the lifeline of settlement activity, no Palestinian should Dr Hasan Abu-LibdehPalestinian Finance Minister Dilemma of Palestinian settlement builders | It is a shame to be part of the lifeline of settlement activity, no Palestinian should Dr Hasan Abu-LibdehPalestinian Finance Minister Dilemma of Palestinian settlement builders |
Were a ban to come into effect Mr Saditsky says he would have no choice but to bring in workers from Jerusalem. | Were a ban to come into effect Mr Saditsky says he would have no choice but to bring in workers from Jerusalem. |
That, in turn, would mean the price of houses would go up. | That, in turn, would mean the price of houses would go up. |
It is difficult to know precisely how many Palestinians work in the approximately 120 settlements dotted across the West Bank. | It is difficult to know precisely how many Palestinians work in the approximately 120 settlements dotted across the West Bank. |
One estimate puts it around 30,000. | One estimate puts it around 30,000. |
And those Palestinians are coming up against an increasingly concerted campaign, led by the PA, against the settlements. | And those Palestinians are coming up against an increasingly concerted campaign, led by the PA, against the settlements. |
On Monday Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signed a law banning settlement produce from Palestinian shops in the West Bank. | On Monday Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signed a law banning settlement produce from Palestinian shops in the West Bank. |
Traders who break the law face prison and a heavy fine. | Traders who break the law face prison and a heavy fine. |
And now senior officials in the PA have told the BBC that, come the end of the year, Palestinians will be breaking the law if they work in the settlements - despite the considerable economic pain this might cause. | And now senior officials in the PA have told the BBC that, come the end of the year, Palestinians will be breaking the law if they work in the settlements - despite the considerable economic pain this might cause. |
Palestinian Economy Minister Hasan Abu-Libdeh is helping to lead the drive. | Palestinian Economy Minister Hasan Abu-Libdeh is helping to lead the drive. |
"The process we are embarked on will clean the Palestinian economy and society from any association with settlements," he says from his modest office in Ramallah. | "The process we are embarked on will clean the Palestinian economy and society from any association with settlements," he says from his modest office in Ramallah. |
He has little sympathy for those who say that they have no choice but to work in the settlements. | He has little sympathy for those who say that they have no choice but to work in the settlements. |
"It is a shame to be part of the lifeline of settlement activity," he says. "No Palestinian should." | "It is a shame to be part of the lifeline of settlement activity," he says. "No Palestinian should." |
Previous version
1
Next version