A rather insensitive article grasping at World Bank assessments for legitimacy.

Who would invest in captive territory surrounded by walls, wire, frequently attacked by Israel, forced to host Israeli settlements and under intrusive surveillance by Israel?

World Bank assessments are highly influenced by Israel, the monied diaspora that supports it, and by Israel's military and political ally (the US) that hosts the World Bank.

The World Bank is headquartered in Washington DC...

As stated above the low amount of investment in Palestine would owe much to its captive nation (often non-nation) status involving many economic limitations and distortions visited on it by Israel.

#David G

There are no 1967 borders - only 1949 armistice lines.

# mikk

The PLO have not been exactly innocents since they failed to grasp the opportunity first afforded them in 2000. You sow what you reap. as I wrote - that was the PLO prerogative for which they have paid a high price.

Maybe they will be a little more amenable in the current negotiations - although I doubt
It very much.
#plantagenet

This World Bank report was not influenced by Israel as the following acknowledgements make clear:

"This report was prepared and written by a team of World Bank staff led by Orhan Niksic, Senior Economist (MNSED) and also included Nur Nasser Eddin, Economist (MNSED) and Massimiliano Cali, Economist (PRMTR). Duja Michael, a consultant, assisted the Bank team in conducting research and analysis for the report.
The report benefited considerably from overall guidance and comments provided by Mariam Sherman, The World Bank Country Director for West Bank and Gaza, Manuela Ferro, Director (LCRVP), Bernard Funck, Sector Manager (MNSED). The following peer reviewers also provided most valuable comments: Dr. Salam Fayyad, former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Kaspar Richter, Lead Economist (ECA PREM), John Nasir, Economic Adviser (OPSPQ), Tracey Lane, Senior Economist (SASGP). Furthermore, much gratitude for time and efforts to enhance the quality of this report is owed to Shanta Devarajan, Chief Economist (MNACE), Nigel Roberts, (former West Bank and Gaza Country Director), Tara Vishwanath, Lead Economist (MNSED), Nandini Krishnan, Economist (MNSED), Ranan Ibrahim Rafat Mutfahar, Operations Officer, (MNCGZ). Undoubtedly, this report could not have been produced without the data, information and insights provided by colleagues in the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of the Palestinian National Authority, Ministry of Planning of the Palestinian National Authority, Nicola Harrison (UNRWA), Rana Hannoun (FAO), Bader Rock, Private Sector and Trade Adviser (Office of the Quartet Representative), and several prominent representatives of the Palestinian private sector."

I repeat - the Report would never have been written if the PLO had signed a peace treaty with Israel in 2000/1 or 2008.

"as I wrote - that was the PLO prerogative for which they have paid a high price."

as I wrote - a disgusting israeli inflicted "high price" of war, destruction, terror and death. Blackmail in other words. Do what we want or we will destroy your society and then you.

Why should the Palestinians be any more "amenable' to israels bully tactics, war crimes and extortion than they were last time.
israel controls the west bank, economy and all. If it is failing then israel and israel alone is to blame. How long before the EU confronts this fact and does something about it. Maybe that is why they have stopped sending good money after bad in donations to the Palestinians.

The real problem is israel, always has been.
And the world is finally waking up to it.
Sanctions Now!

Thankyou David Singer

For naively quoting economists' claims to infallible objectivity.

Need I remind you how economists in 2006 overwhelmingly recommended sub-prime geared securities as good investments...

Any banker-economist is sensitive to his political surroundings.

Organisational and academic economists are influenced by political attitudes of the countries in which they live and by the conventional wisdom of the times.

A measure of the World Bank's lack of neutrality is that World Bank President's without exception have been Americans since that Bank began to function in 1946 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_bank#List_of_Presidents .

You're biased concerning Palestine for glaringly obvious reasons.

Pete

David Singer,

"The PLO has made its bed. It has to live with the consequences."

Drivel, the Zionists made that procrustean bed from plans made more than a century ago, the Palestinians certainly have to live with the consequences.