Israeli, Palestinian Economic
Ties Remain Strong

(December 23, 1999)

Figures released this week by Ya'acov Orr, Activities Coordinator for the West Bank and Gaza, indicate that and 60 percent of the Palestinian Authority's budget ($600 million) derive from Israeli tax revenues, Ma’ariv reported December 23, 1999.

Some 110,000 Palestinians are presently employed in Israel on a daily basis, 60,000 of which are legally registered workers; the former number constitutes one quarter of the total Palestinians workforce.

Orr also reported that commerce between Israel and the PA has reached $2 billion per year; the volume of exports from Israel to the PA is three times that of its imports; and Israeli consumers spend some NIS 10 million ($2.4 million) in Palestinian Authority territory during weekends.

Source: Israeli Foreign Ministry