United Nations Radio

The war-torn Palestinian economy cannot be revived without providing the Palestinian Authority (PA) with increased policy options.

That according to a new report by the UN body dealing with trade and development -UNCTAD. The report argues that while it is necessary to lift the Israeli closure policy and movement restrictions imposed on the occupied Palestinian territory, dismantle the Israeli separation barrier, and intensify donor support and institutional reform, they are not sufficient for achieving economic recovery and sustained growth.

Mahmoud El Khafif is the UNCTAD officer in charge of assistance to the Palestinian people:

"On their own they are not sufficient to place the Palestinian economy on a path of sustained development. What's really needed in addition to that is to expand the policy space available to the Palestinian policy maker."

The report says the Palestinian economy is today 60 per cent of what it was in 1999.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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