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'The Netanyahu-Fayyad "economic peace" one year on' by Ziyaad Lunat *The Electronic Intifada*, 10 February 2010 [...] A consensus has developed among the political elite, and even among Arab states, that improving Palestinians' quality of life, even if under military occupation, is the long sought solution for Palestinian misfortunes. [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu assigned Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom to lead the economic peace task force and coordinate with both Blair and the PA. The Netanyahu-[PA Prime Minister Salam] Fayyad plan has been a magnet for foreign capital. [...] Real Estate is the main target for foreign corporate investment. Rawabi, the first Palestinian planned city, is Fayyad's flagship project. The Washington Post reported that Rawabi "is specifically designed for upwardly mobile families of a sort that in the United States might gravitate to places such as Reston, VA. The developments are also relying on another American import, the home mortgage, including creation of a Fannie Mae-style institution for the West Bank." USAID, a branch of the American government, is funneling funds through nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for the promotion of a mortgage culture in Palestine to support these initiatives from bottom-up. One such example is CHF International, a corporate-led development NGO, which is organizing community level focus groups and technical training as part of their "homebuyer education" program. A year on, the cost of the Netanyahu-Fayyad plan is becoming clear. Low-income Palestinian families and small business are being encouraged to borrow to fuel a high-risk economy. Israel has proven time again that it won't hesitate to strike a blow against Palestinian infrastructure should they dissent from the current consensus in its favor. Families are risking their possessions as collateral for their debts. Corporations responsible for the global financial collapse are applying their failed models in Palestine.[...] Full text: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11065.shtml ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
