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Ramallah, Feb. 20, 2002- In defiance of
International Trade agreements and the Paris
Economic Protocol agreement signed between the
Palestinian National Authority and Israel,
Israeli authorities are inhibiting Palestinian
IT companies from importing networking and
communication products by detaining them at
Israeli ports.
While there is no restriction on the
importation of mobile phones or networking and
communication equipment, Israeli authorities
cite the lack of authorization from military
authorities as justification for their actions
and continue to deny authorization even after
the companies apply as required.
The detainment of products imported from
companies like Hewlett Packard, 3Com, Siemens
and Cisco result in losses to both the exporting
and importing companies and forces Palestinian
companies to buy equipment from the Israeli
market. This reality is causing speculation
regarding the political motives behind the
Israeli strategy.
"We have reached a dead-end in our inventory
levels," said Ibrahim Barham, Palestinian IT
Association Chairman and Managing Director of
Safad Engineering and Electronics Ltd. "There
is no security issue involved at all because
these same exact products are available in the
Israeli market and there is no restriction on
their purchase by Palestinians from Israeli
suppliers."
The ban on importing networking and
telecommunication products began approximately
three months ago and targets all private
companies. Not only are companies unable to
release products seized by Israel, but there is
also a delay in importing any new equipment
because Israel now requires companies to apply
for additional certificate authorizing each
individual product to be imported. Previously
companies applied for only one blanket
certificate authorizing shipments each year.
Companies have requested written statements by
the Israeli government explaining the new
policy, however none have been forthcoming.
PITA is also facing complications stemming from
the Israeli blockade of Ramallah, which prevents
the Association's employees from going to work
due to the presence of Israeli tanks and
soldiers in and around the building housing
their offices.
"This caused unnecessary loss of donor money
which meant to help the Palestinian IT
industry," said Mashhour Abudaka, Executive
Director of PITA, citing the inability of his
employees to access important files and
materials left at their office.
PITA which is funded by membership fees as well
as donor funds such as USAID and UNDP, has
suffered severe financial losses as a result of
blockading of the office.
PITA attempted to obtain permission from the
District Coordinating Office, the
Palestinian-Israeli liaison office, to gain
entry in to the building, however they were
denied by Israel.
The companies suffering as a result of Israel's
new policies are doing their best to release
their seized equipment. They are also lobbying
the US Embassy and the USAID office in Tel Aviv,
with no success thus far in solving the problem.
"These restrictions destroy the business
infrastructure for importing and supporting the
needs of high tech equipment in Palestine, which
was slowly being built after the establishment
of Palestinian National Authority," said Tareq
Ma'ayah, CEO, Siemens? ICT, "It takes us back to
the days of the full occupation when we were
reliant on the Israelis for all communication
equipment."
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