Annex: Response by the Office of the Quartet
Representative
General comments:
- The Quartet Representative
is focused on the implementation of the package of measures he
announced on 13 May 2008. In addition, the QR has continued to
work hard in support of developing the Palestinian economy and
institutions, which has included efforts and lobbying to ensure
that donors honour their commitments to disburse budget support
pledges to the PA. His efforts towards Gaza extend well beyond
the North Gaza sewage project, to include working to maintain
Gaza's entire water and sanitation network, and the successful
lobbying of the Israeli government to allow much needed new currency
into Gaza and the exchange of old currency so that 400,000 civil
servants and their dependants could receive salary, pension and
safety net payments. The QR has also successfully lobbied on behalf
of Gaza students to be allowed to travel abroad to take up their
scholarships and has pushed for more goods to be allowed into
Gaza. He has also begun to raise funds internationally to support
public education in the West Bank and in Gaza and to improve the
learning environment of over a million students.
- On the projects front, the
QR's strategy has been to identify opportunities to strengthen
existing efforts from donors and to ensure the projects receive
all the necessary clearances and can come into effect quickly,
rather than to set up parallel initiatives for project development
to the ones already in existence (in the PRDP and in the Berlin
Conference outcome document.)
- Efforts to support the rule
of law and to follow up on the Berlin conference have been coupled
with a renewed focus on Jenin, coupling rule of law activities
there with economic projects. This is intended to create successful
precedents for Israel's removal of movement and access restrictions
instituted since 2000, matched with a marked improvement in security
delivery by the PA, and 'peace and security dividends' to the
Palestinian population resulting from greater access, investment
and donor support.
- Response to paragraph 63 (projects
manifesting the occupation and legitimising it): The international
community at large has chosen not to compromise the well-being
of the Palestinian population, and has therefore sought to ensure
that well-being at the same time as pushing for an environment
that supports peaceful negotiations to the creation of a peaceful,
viable, and democratic Palestinian state and an end of the Israeli
occupation.
Update on progress of the removal of checkpoints,
the creation of the Jenin Industrial Park and the North Gaza sewage
project (paragraph 66 of the report):
1) Removal of checkpoints:
Shavei Shomron, the main checkpoint connecting Nablus to Jenin
was opened in mid-August and remains open on a daily basis between
the hours of 06:00-18:00. This follows the removal of the Kvasim
checkpoint on 18 May, as well as the removal of the Asira A Shamaliya
checkpoint near Nablus and the Rimonim checkpoint before that.
The QR continues to press for easing West Bank access and movement,
including the removal of other checkpoints and granting of permits
as agreed in the May 13 package.
2) Jalameh Industrial Park:
Progress is being made with good cooperation between PA-GOI, the
donors, and the developer. Questions over power and water supply
remain, but these are in the process of being addressed. The issue
of the access road has already been resolved. The primary PA
agency responsible for this industrial estate is the Palestinian
Industrial Estate and Free Zones Authority (PIEFZA). The Ministry
of National Economy, which chairs PIEFZA, is the key ministry.
The private developer for the site is the North Industrial Investment
Company. Germany, through KfW, is financing and executing
off-site infrastructure, and the European Investment Bank and
the World Bank are involved in all power issues. The Israeli Ministry
of Defence has agreed to reduce the distance from the barrier
to 350m (from 500m). Issues that remain to be resolved include
the design and height of the surrounding fence, the height of
the industrial buildings, criteria for products, equipment and
workers allowed to go in and out during the construction period
and the type of security checks required during the construction
period. As soon as the list of industries allowed to produce inside
the park and the list of products to go in and out have been agreed,
the presentations for the road-show will be prepared for attracting
potential investors.
3) North Gaza Sewage Project:
Good progress has been made. Phase One of the project will be
completed once the last 70 trucks of pipes are allowed into Gaza
by the Israeli authorities. The Israelis are working hard to let
these in as Phase One should be completed before the start of
the rainy season. Once this is done, Phase One will be completed
one month after that. Israel has provided the security clearance
for all goods for Phase One, and needs to co-ordinate the transfer
of goods from Ashdod to Gaza.
Report on other areas of progress:
- Wataniya telecommunications
company: On 28 July,
the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel signed
a Frequency Allocation Agreement that enables Wataniya, the second
mobile telephone operator in Palestine, to begin operations. The
Wataniya deal was one of the cornerstones of the May 13 package
agreed upon by the Quartet Representative and the Israeli government.
As a result of the frequency allocation, Wataniya will begin procurement
of the equipment to begin operations by the beginning of 2009.
This deal will contribute to the overall growth of the Palestinian
economy. It will involve an injection of funds to the PA of over
$354 million in licence fees, with an immediate transfer of $80-100
million, which has crucially helped Prime Minister Fayyad cover
the August salary payments. Secondly, Wataniya will invest more
than $700 million in the Palestinian Authority over 10 years,
create 750 jobs for Palestinians and generate 1,500-2,000 indirect
jobs.
- Palestinian workers:
a further 1000 permits have been granted for 1000 Palestinian
olive harvesters to work in Israel.
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