Experts Call For Suspending Or Modifying Paris Protocol

Gaza, 22 Rabi’ul Awwal 1438/22 December 2016 (MINA) – A number of Palestinian economists called on Wednesday for suspending the Protocol on Economic Relations, also called the Paris Protocol, with Israel or at least modifying it in a bid to improve the deteriorating economic conditions and provide a new economic environment where borders are opened and restrictions are lifted.

They agreed on the need to compel the Israeli government to implement the interim political agreement to be able to move to a new phase ending the ongoing transitional phase, and reach a new agreement that guarantees parity in the Palestinian-Israeli relations, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reported.

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This came during a panel discussion entitled “Paris economic protocol and its implications on the Palestinian agricultural and economic conditions” organized by the Arab Center for agricultural development in Gaza City.

The participants called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to set new arrangements that end the Palestinian economy’s dependency on the Israeli economy, which resulted from the Paris Protocol and greatly harmed the Palestinian economy.

They also proposed comprehensive reforms in the PA’s institutions, enhancing the economic boycott of Israel, and establishing free industrial zones.

The panelists stressed the need to activate the items that allow the PA to import goods and economic supplies from outside Israel such as fuel.(T/P008/R07)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)