RocketJSquirell
Member
every day we here how poor the Arab Palestinians are, how they have nothing and are kept in poverty by the "occupation." But, although the lie is endlessly repeated it is not true.
“Occupied Palestine” Has More BMWs, Mercedes on Streets than Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
A recent report published by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) brings to light some painfully glaring contrasts developing amongst the ranks of the Palestinian Authority.
While many left-wing and human rights groups blame the Israeli “occupation” for poor living conditions in Gaza and Palestinian-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria, the report paints a picture of a new class of Palestinians living in comfort and even luxury in a fast-developing society where literacy is high, infant mortality is low and citizens are happier than most Americans.
The report, entitled “Luxury Alongside Poverty in the Palestinian Authority”, explores the contradictions between a world narrative regarding the plight of the Palestinian “refugee” population and the realities of Palestinian daily life.
These realities for today’s Palestinian refugees are cushioned by billions of dollars of international aid which have gone towards improving conditions in refugee camps since 1948. The PA receives approximately $2 billion in aid annually from the UN, the US and other governmental bodies. Economic analysts estimate that the PA has received a total of $25 billion in foreign aid since the establishment of Palestinian self-rule in parts of Judea, Samaria and Gaza in the mid-1990’s.
Though much of this aid has been siphoned off by corrupt PA leadership to build luxurious homes and governmental buildings, the effects of the funds are visible in both refugee camps and in the building up of Palestinian towns and cities throughout the PA.
A typical refugee “camp shelter” generally consists of a 4-5 story concrete apartment building with electricity, satellite television and municipal garbage collection.
. . .
In contrast to the dismal images of poverty, oppression and despair projected onto the world stage by the PA and its advocates, the report digests empirical data which reveals another picture entirely.
Some of the facts uncovered would probably shock a consumer of the mainstream media narrative. According to the CIA World Factbook, the poverty rate in Palestinian-controlled areas was reported at 18 percent in 2011, a number actually lower than Israel’s 2012 poverty rate of 21 percent.
Life expectancy, which is 70 years on average worldwide, was 76 years for Palestinians in 2015. For contrast, the 2012 average life expectancy in other Arab states was 71 years. In 2015, the infant mortality rate in Palestinian areas and Gaza was 13 per 1,000 live births, significantly better than the 27 per 1,000 live births in other Arab states and 36.58 per 1,000 live births worldwide.
Palestinians also surpass other populations in education and literacy. In 2011, 63.5 percent of Arabs said they were satisfied with their education system, a higher percentage than people living in the US (62.8), Netherlands (60.3), Sweden (61.6) and Japan (54.6), and much higher than the overall percentage in Arab states, which was 50 percent. The average literacy rate for people aged 15 and above in Palestinian cities and Gaza was 96.5 percent in 2015.
. . .
In another surprising reveal, the report cites the 2012 Happy Planet Index, which is a survey conducted by the New Economics Forum to measure happiness around the world. Out of 20 Arab countries, the Palestinian Authority ranked third happiest, but even more shockingly, it ranked 30th happiest worldwide, placing it above the US, the UK, Sweden, Australia and Canada.
As the report concludes, there is considerable wealth and a much higher living standard in “occupied” Palestine than PA leaders and pro-Palestinian activists would have the world believe.
Read more at https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/...l-aviv-judea-and-samaria/#iT02GZr0dOSKsIWU.99
There are actual problems in Israel and in the PA. Perhaps the "pro-Palestinian activists" could concentrate on actual problems instead of fake ones? Of course, that would require them to actually take an interest in the Arab Palestinians and acknowledge facts.
“Occupied Palestine” Has More BMWs, Mercedes on Streets than Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
A recent report published by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) brings to light some painfully glaring contrasts developing amongst the ranks of the Palestinian Authority.
While many left-wing and human rights groups blame the Israeli “occupation” for poor living conditions in Gaza and Palestinian-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria, the report paints a picture of a new class of Palestinians living in comfort and even luxury in a fast-developing society where literacy is high, infant mortality is low and citizens are happier than most Americans.
The report, entitled “Luxury Alongside Poverty in the Palestinian Authority”, explores the contradictions between a world narrative regarding the plight of the Palestinian “refugee” population and the realities of Palestinian daily life.
These realities for today’s Palestinian refugees are cushioned by billions of dollars of international aid which have gone towards improving conditions in refugee camps since 1948. The PA receives approximately $2 billion in aid annually from the UN, the US and other governmental bodies. Economic analysts estimate that the PA has received a total of $25 billion in foreign aid since the establishment of Palestinian self-rule in parts of Judea, Samaria and Gaza in the mid-1990’s.
Though much of this aid has been siphoned off by corrupt PA leadership to build luxurious homes and governmental buildings, the effects of the funds are visible in both refugee camps and in the building up of Palestinian towns and cities throughout the PA.
A typical refugee “camp shelter” generally consists of a 4-5 story concrete apartment building with electricity, satellite television and municipal garbage collection.
. . .
In contrast to the dismal images of poverty, oppression and despair projected onto the world stage by the PA and its advocates, the report digests empirical data which reveals another picture entirely.
Some of the facts uncovered would probably shock a consumer of the mainstream media narrative. According to the CIA World Factbook, the poverty rate in Palestinian-controlled areas was reported at 18 percent in 2011, a number actually lower than Israel’s 2012 poverty rate of 21 percent.
Life expectancy, which is 70 years on average worldwide, was 76 years for Palestinians in 2015. For contrast, the 2012 average life expectancy in other Arab states was 71 years. In 2015, the infant mortality rate in Palestinian areas and Gaza was 13 per 1,000 live births, significantly better than the 27 per 1,000 live births in other Arab states and 36.58 per 1,000 live births worldwide.
Palestinians also surpass other populations in education and literacy. In 2011, 63.5 percent of Arabs said they were satisfied with their education system, a higher percentage than people living in the US (62.8), Netherlands (60.3), Sweden (61.6) and Japan (54.6), and much higher than the overall percentage in Arab states, which was 50 percent. The average literacy rate for people aged 15 and above in Palestinian cities and Gaza was 96.5 percent in 2015.
. . .
In another surprising reveal, the report cites the 2012 Happy Planet Index, which is a survey conducted by the New Economics Forum to measure happiness around the world. Out of 20 Arab countries, the Palestinian Authority ranked third happiest, but even more shockingly, it ranked 30th happiest worldwide, placing it above the US, the UK, Sweden, Australia and Canada.
As the report concludes, there is considerable wealth and a much higher living standard in “occupied” Palestine than PA leaders and pro-Palestinian activists would have the world believe.
Read more at https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/...l-aviv-judea-and-samaria/#iT02GZr0dOSKsIWU.99
There are actual problems in Israel and in the PA. Perhaps the "pro-Palestinian activists" could concentrate on actual problems instead of fake ones? Of course, that would require them to actually take an interest in the Arab Palestinians and acknowledge facts.
