Intervention and responsibility in international aid to the Palestinians
3 April 2012, CREA Amsterdam. 4 April 2012, American Book Center The Hague
With the Economist Shir Hever
Per-capita aid to Palestinians has reached an all-time peak in 2009, and the Gaza Strip has been declared the most aid-dependent region in the world. However, the Palestinian economy remains stagnated, and the standard of living of Palestinians under Israeli occupation does not improve. Although there are clear guidelines set in International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for international aid organizations, these laws have sometimes been exploited by Israel to achieve the exact opposite of the law’s intent. Furthermore, many of the international organizations are knowingly breaking the law. The economic aspects of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territory can teach us a great deal about the political interests, hidden and revealed, which are operating in this small region. Why does the international community agree to pay so much for aid to the Palestinians? What interests of the donors does this aid serve? Why all this money failed to improve the standard of living of Palestinians since 1994? How does Israel influence the decisions of donors? How does this aid help Israel occupy the Palestinians?
This meeting is organized in cooperation with CREA and Democratie en Media.