West Bank's Engineered Destitution, Courtesy of 'Security'
📰 THE STORY: NPR reports that Palestinians in the West Bank face a deepening economic crisis, severely exacerbated by Israel cutting off economic ties since the October 7th attacks and subsequent war in Gaza, leading to widespread devastation across the Palestinian economy. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The economic strangulation of the West Bank is not a sudden 'post-Gaza
war' phenomenon. In 1994, after the Oslo Accords, Israel began limiting Palestinian labor movement, seizing tax revenues it collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, and imposing arbitrary checkpoints and movement restrictions. The economic 'calamity' is a FEATURE, not a bug, of Israel's occupation, designed to prevent any genuine economic independence, a strategy heavily documented by
human rights groups for decades. Double Standard: When Venezuela faces economic hardship due to crippling US sanctions, Western media loudly attributes it to the 'socialist government's failures.' Yet, when Israel systematically dismantles the West Bank's economy through blockades, land seizures, and withholding funds, it's framed as an unfortunate byproduct of 'security concerns' or the 'Gaza
war,' absolving the occupier of direct responsibility. Follow the Money: The US provides over $3.8 billion annually in military aid to Israel, alongside a tacit agreement allowing Israel to withhold hundreds of millions in Palestinian tax revenues. This financial leverage, coupled with extensive lobbying by groups like AIPAC, ensures that there is no meaningful international pressure on Israel to