Corruption accusations

[Vic]

This comes from a source I do not exactly consider reliable, still - is there any truth in the following:
Further, there’s still the important issue of major benefits to Israeli businesses with Palestinian Authority monopolies.

Consider the following: All gasoline sold in Palestine is under control of Israel’s Dor Energia. The monopoly is controlled by Muhammad Rashid, financial advisor to Yasser Arafat, and Yossi Ginossar, former head of the investigation branch of Israel’s Shin Bet. It is interesting to note that in March 1993, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected the appointment of Yossi Ginossar as director general of the Housing Ministry because he had been involved the shocking interrogation of a Druze officer, as well as the murder of two captured Palestinians.

The importation and sale of cigarettes is controlled by among others, Yossi Ginossar and Muhammad Rashid. Businessman Charles Bronfman and Muhammad Rashid control the cement monopoly. Bronfman has given tens of millions to the Israeli economy.

Israeli/Palestinian partners control the remainders of the monopolies. And without any competition, these monopolies have only served to drive prices for the most basic products to outrageous levels for the average Palestinian ‘Joe.’?

From: http://palestinechronicle.com/article.php?story=20020626201517957

[Mediocrates]

Damned if you do damned if you don't

[Vic]

let the moody out / ugly mood in you / open up your mouth / kill it with your shoe

[cerulean]

Originally posted by Vic
This comes from a source I do not exactly consider reliable, still - is there any truth in the following:?


(Begin with the disclaimer that not actually knowing much at all about the subject is not going to stop me from commenting ...)

A look at some sites that show up on a quick search indicate that the Palestinian Authority has set up monopolies over various significant staples and Arafat has given these monopolies to cronies. These monopolies serve the effect of driving up prices, naturally. So this is another way that Arafat is impoverishing his people.

I don't know one way or another, but it would seem possible that several Israeli businessmen might be involved in these "ventures," even if it is not the most uplifting enterprise to say the least. I don't think there's a specific way in which these monopolies enrich the Israeli government, however.

[Mediocrates]

Isn't this the kind of economic cooperation everyone wants to happen? In the absence of modern laws and controls it has to be based on personal contacts and good old Arab baksheesh. Does this not provide another avenue with which to pressure the PLO where it hurts?

[Vic]

Originally posted by Mediocrates
Isn't this the kind of economic cooperation everyone wants to happen? In the absence of modern laws and controls it has to be based on personal contacts and good old Arab baksheesh. Does this not provide another avenue with which to pressure the PLO where it hurts? Theoretically yes. Yet, if - and only if - the article is true, this pressure, down to the dismantling of the PA/PLO would also hurt Israeli and to a lesser degree American private business interests.