Restrictive measures by the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian economy and especially during the period 29/9/2000 – 30/6/2001 created numerous obstacles, which have further complicated and aggravated an already precarious situation.

Agriculture is a major contributor to the Palestinian gross domestic product and employs a high percentage of the Palestinian work force. Marketing of farm products to the Palestinian, Israeli or world markets is one of many Israeli obstacles faced by the Palestinian farmers. The closure and complete seal of the cities hindered the capability of marketing the agriculture products. Other potential working activities such as transportation were hindered by the Israeli closure of the Palestinian towns and villages. This in addition to the loss of revenue as a result of Israeli uprooting of 385808 trees.

The following is a list of some of Israeli practices that have affected the agricultural sector:

1. The policy of closure and separation between villages and districts. 2. Uprotting bulldozing and burning trees. 3. Harassing farmers while working on the land and preventing them from picking their produce. 4. Limiting the movement of herds. 5. Destroying agricultural lands and uprooting trees in order to construct military locations at the entrances of Palestinian districts and villages. 6. Destroying green houses. 7. Closing the fishing harbor and limiting the movements of the fishermen.

These practices have led to the following results:

• Hindering marketing process and reducing prices of agricultural products.

• Stopping any agricultural projects that aimed to enhance the infrastructure and the production efficiency of the sector.

• Limiting the provision of agricultural inputs and an increase in their prices. • Paralyzing the movement of agricultural laborers.

• Restricting the transport of agricultural products, the Israeli lorries only being allowed to transfer goods to the entrances of districts.

• The difficulty in providing the agricultural services has led to a fall in production and the spread of various diseases in both plant and animal production.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has formed emergency committees in all districts in order to continue to provide the MOA services under closure. These committees have worked with institutions on the national level in order to evaluate the losses.

The report annexed in details1 represents a summary of the Palestinian losses in the agricultural sector as a result of Israeli aggression and closure of the Palestinian cities and communities.

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