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Living conditions of the Palestinian people<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n\n
in the occupied Palestinian territories<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n
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Report of the Secretary-General<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n\n
1.\t<\/span>The General Assembly at its fortieth session, after considering the report of the Secretary-General on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories (A\/40\/373-E\/1985\/99), adopted resolution 40\/201, in paragraph 6 of which it requested the Secretary-General: (a) to organize by April 1987, a seminar on priority development projects needed for improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories, including a comprehensive general housing program, as recommended in resolution 8\/3 of the Commission on Human Settlements; (b) to make necessary preparations for the seminar, providing for the participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization; (c) to invite experts to present papers to the seminar; (d) to invite also relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; (e) to report to the Assembly at its forty-first session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the preparations for the seminar; (f) to report: to the Assembly at its forty-second session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the seminar.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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2.\t<\/span>The Secretary-General accordingly submitted a progress report on preparations for the seminar (A\/41\/415-E\/1986\/104) to the General Assembly at its forty-first session, through the Economic and Social Council. The General Assembly took note of the report in decision 41\/453.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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3.\t<\/span>The Seminar was held at the Vienna International Center from 2 to 6 March 1987. The report on the Seminar is contained in the annex to the present report.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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ANNEX<\/p><\/div>\n
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Report of the Seminar on the Living Conditions of the Palestinian<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n\n
People in the Occupied Palestinian Territories<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n
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(Vienna, 2-6 March 1987)<\/p><\/div>\n
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CONTENTS<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\n| <\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n Paragraphs<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n pages<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n I.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n INTRODUCTION<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 1-3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 5<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n II.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n GENERAL FRAMEWORK<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 4-5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 5<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n III.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n SUMMARIES OF PROJECT PROPOSALS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 6<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n A.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Establishment of an Arab cement company in the West Bank<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 7<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n B.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Development of a seaport in Gaza<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 8<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n C.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Establishment of a co-operative factory to process selected local fruits and vegetables<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n D.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Establishment of a marketing agency for Palestinian agricultural products<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n E.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Establishment of a training and production centre for arts and crafts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 12<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n F.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Production and training centre for textiles and ready-made garments<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 14<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n G.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Ceramics factory in Hebron<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 15<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n H.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Sardine canning factory in Gaza<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 16<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n I.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Development of sheep stock and training of farmers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 17<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n J.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Establishment of a poultry hatchery<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 19<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n K.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Propagation and use of jojoba<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 20<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n L.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Satisfaction of housing needs<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 22<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n M.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Satisfaction of the energy needs of rural communities<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 23<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n N.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Organization and provision of an inexpensive transport network as a co-operative venture<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | <\/p>\n O.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/p>\n Improvement of the road network<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n<\/td>\n | <\/p>\n 26<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| <\/td>\n | \n P.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Water utilization<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | <\/p>\n 28<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| \n Appendix .<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n List of participants<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n | \n 29<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n \n \n
\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n I. INTRODUCTION<\/p><\/div>\n \n 1.\t<\/span>The Seminar on the Living Conditions of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territories was held at the Vienna International Center from 2 to 6 March 1987, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 40\/201.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 2.\t<\/span>The Seminar was attended by 10 experts who prepared project proposals for the Seminar; the representatives of two United Nations Secretariat units, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs; and the representatives of one specialized agency, the World Health Organization. Representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization also participated, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 40\/201. The League of Arab States was also represented. A list of participants is given in the appendix.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 3.\t<\/span>The Seminar established three working groups, which examined project proposals related to:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a)\t<\/span>Agriculture and industry;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (b)\t<\/span>Training, manpower development and employment;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (c)\t<\/span>Housing and infrastructure.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n Summaries of the project proposals, as agreed upon by the working groups, were considered at the final plenary meeting and are presented in section III below.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n II. GENERAL FRAMEWORK<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 4.\t<\/span>To facilitate the work of the Seminar, the participants agreed to consider the project proposals in a general framework for project identification and assessment. The following general framework was agreed upon:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a)\t<\/span>As there is at present no integrated plan for development in the occupied Palestinian territories, it is necessary to select individual projects that can eventually be implemented;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (b)\t<\/span>Project identification and selection should focus on:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (i)\t<\/span>Agriculture, industry and utilization of land and other resources;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (ii)\t<\/span>Housing, to establish the people on the land and protect: that which is not yet confiscated;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (iii)\t<\/span>Development of manpower and improvement of technological skills as central prerequisites for development, providing job opportunities and expanding the number of beneficiaries of the development process;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (iv)\t<\/span>Institution-building to inculcate the values of co-operation, group action and solidarity;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (c) \t<\/span>Scarce financial resources should be used optimally; hence, duplication of Projects should be avoided, bearing in mind the programs and activities of the organizations of the United Nations system, governmental, non-governmental and other bilateral and multilateral sources of assistance to the Palestinian People in the occupied Palestinian territories;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (d) \t<\/span>The constraints imposed by the Israeli occupation and the need to be inventive and selective in the choice of projects should be borne in mind.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 5.\t<\/span>The participants agreed to give high priority to projects directed towards the following objectives:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a)\t<\/span>Increased productivity and the expansion, diversification and improvement of production in agriculture and industry;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (b) \t<\/span>The use of surplus perishable agricultural produce, particularly through the establishment of agro-industries in which there is complementarity between the two sectors;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (c) \t<\/span>The promotion of housing and related activities through a program to make greater use of physical and financial resources;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (d)\t<\/span>Increased import substitution and export potential;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (e) \t<\/span>An improvement in the geographical distribution of projects, taking into account resource endowment.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n The central theme underlying all these objectives was labor absorption and the entrenchment of the Palestinian people in their homes and on their land.<\/p><\/div>\n \n III. SUMMARIES OF PROJECT PROPOSALS*<\/p><\/div>\n \n 6.\t<\/span>The participants presented a number of project proposals to tile Seminar, which are summarized below.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n A. Establishment of an Arab cement company in the West Bank<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 1. Development objective<\/u>: To promote the growth of industry, particularly in the construction sector, including housing and related infrastructure, in the occupied Palestinian territories.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 2. Immediate objective<\/u>: To establish an Arab cement company in the West Bank.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 3. Background and justification<\/u>: At present, almost all cement requirements of the occupied Palestinian territories are supplied by Israel under a quota system which meets less than 50 per cent of the demand for cement. The remaining demand is usually met from private Israeli wholesalers at very high prices. Owing to the Israeli monopoly of the cement market, there are- periodical shortages of cement in the occupied Palestinian territories. As cement is an essential commodity for development programs, especially housing and infrastructure construction, the production of cement locally will help: (a) to make the occupied territories self-sufficient in cement; (b) to mobilize the idle human and natural resources in the occupied territories; (c) to create direct employment opportunities for about 1,000 workers, as well as significant indirect employment opportunities in the construction sector and ancillary industries. Studies indicated that the raw materials needed for cement production are available and that it is possible to establish a cement factory in the vicinity of Hebron.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 4.\t<\/span>Outputs<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a) Feasibility study report;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (b) Construction of a cement factory;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (c) Production of 1,500 tons of cement per day.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 5.\t<\/span>Activities<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a)\t<\/span>Raw materials investigations;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (b)\t<\/span>Feasibility study based on the above investigations;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (c)\t<\/span>Constitution of the company;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (d)\t<\/span>Construction of the cement factory;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (e)\t<\/span>Recruitment of manpower for operation and management.<\/p><\/div>\n\n —<\/p><\/div>\n \n It was agreed that the participants would revise their project proposals taking into account the comments made during the discussion at the Seminar, and forward their revised proposals to the United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Habitat).<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 6.\t<\/span>Inputs:<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a) Consultants and experts to conduct a feasibility study;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (b) Utilization of the raw materials available in the occupied Palestinian territories;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (c) Mobilization of manpower available in the occupied territories;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (d) Provision of electricity and water to the site;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (e) Expertise from abroad to erect and commission the factory;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (f) Purchase and installation of equipment and machinery.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 7.\t<\/span>Prerequisites<\/u>: It will be necessary to obtain permits from the occupying authorities for different activities such as drilling, building, using land, drilling of water wells, constructing a power station and importing equipment and machines as well as eventual mining.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 8.\t<\/span>Estimated costs<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n \n\n| \n Pre-investment activities<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n $US 1 000 000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n Investments<\/p>\n Working capital<\/p>\n <\/td>\n | \n 48 100 000<\/p>\n 2 000 000<\/u><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n TOTAL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n $US 51 100 000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n \n 9.\t<\/span>Possible sources of funding<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a)\t<\/span>Founder shareholders;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (b)\t<\/span>Other shareholders;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (c)\t<\/span>Long-\/medium-term loans from suppliers of equipment and machines;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (d)\t<\/span>Development banks and other financial sources.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 10. Available documentation<\/u>: Said J. Haifa, "Establishment of an Arab cement company in the West Bank", paper prepared for the Seminar, Vienna, 1987.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n B. Development of a seaport in Gaza<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 1. Development objective<\/u>: To develop the infrastructure in Gaza to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 2. Immediate objective<\/u>: To develop a seaport in Gaza which will provide the Palestinian people with an outlet to the sea.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 3. Background and justification<\/u>: in view of the isolation of Gaza under occupation, there is an urgent need to find an outlet for its products and access to outside markets. A seaport can provide such an outlet, thus improving the quality of life and relieving some of the pressures that exist in the Gaza Strip.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 4.\t<\/span>Outputs<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a)\t<\/span>Feasibility study report;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (b)\t<\/span>Technical report on design and construction of a commercial seaport;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n c)\t<\/span>Commercial seaport.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 5.\t<\/span>Activities<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a)\t<\/span>Geological, oceanographic, climatical and economic surveys;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (b)\t<\/span>Modeling, that is, making a model of the seaport;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (c)\t<\/span>Preparation of the full feasibility report.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 6.\t<\/span>Inputs and estimated costs<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n \n\n| \n Data collection and survey<\/p>\n Modeling<\/p>\n Port design by various specialized engineers<\/p>\n Transportation<\/p>\n Economic evaluation and financial analysis<\/p>\n Administration<\/p>\n Construction of the seaport <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TOTAL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n $US 150 000<\/p>\n 120 000<\/p>\n 450 000<\/p>\n 20 000<\/p>\n 215 000<\/p>\n 32 000<\/p>\n (to be determined<\/u>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n $us.987.000<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n \n 7.\t<\/span>Institutional framework<\/u>: To be managed by an independent port authority.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 8.\t<\/span>Available documentation<\/u>: Said A. Assaf, “Development of a seaport in Gaza”, paper prepared for the Seminar, Vienna, 1987.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n C.\t<\/span>Establishment of a co-operative factory to process selecte<\/u>d local fruits and vegetables<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 1.\t<\/span>Development objectives<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a) To broaden the industrial sector and increase the contribution ratio of the industrial sector to the GDP, which is now not more than 5 per cent;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (b) To help revive the agricultural sector by creating price stability for farm products as well as increasing the value of such products;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (c) To reduce foreign trade balance deficits for the occupied territories.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 2.\t<\/span>Immediate objective<\/u>: To process a substantial part of the surplus of vegetables and fruits. The proposed processing capacity is 50,000 tons of farm products annually. In addition, the factory will manufacture by-products and residues.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 3.\t<\/span>Background and justification<\/u>: At present there is on average a surplus of 242,000 tons of fruits, vegetables and olives per year in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. None of the existing agricultural co-operatives and local business firms have succeeded in establishing permanent markets for farm products in the Arab, European or other countries, although pre-feasibility studies have shown the potential for such markets. This co-operative factory will have the advantage of being operational in all seasons, and of hiring workers on a permanent basis, since it will process a variety of farm products in different seasons, including citrus, tomatoes, figs, cucumber, olives, eggplants, peaches, peas and beans. Several alternative processing methods will be available, which may be adopted according to the marketing needs or existing farm product surplus. These include extracting, canning, pickling, drying, freezing of fruits and vegetables, cooking of fruits, jams, jellies, butter and marmalades. The project will be completed in two years and will provide direct employment for 150 persons.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 4.\t<\/span>Outputs<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a)\t<\/span>Feasibility study report;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (b) \t<\/span>An output of 17,500 tons of final food and juice products yearly, in various flavors, types, packages, weights and designs;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (c)\t<\/span>Other by-products which may be processed further or sold in raw form.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 5.\t<\/span>Activities<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n (a) Conducting detailed marketing research to identify brands, trademarks, ingredients, components and packaging;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (b) Conducting an economic feasibility study to test the profitability of the suggested process alternatives;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n (c) Depending on the findings of the feasibility study, the following steps will be initiated: establishing the co-operative firm; designing and constructing the factory; recruiting manpower; testing of production process.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n 6.\t<\/span>Inputs and estimated costs<\/u>:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n \n\n| <\/td>\n | \n Land<\/p>\n Construction<\/p>\n Equipment<\/p>\n Establishment expenses (including the feasibility study)<\/p>\n Working capital<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n $US 150 000<\/p>\n 500 000<\/p>\n 2 100 000<\/p>\n 50 000<\/p>\n 200 000<\/u><\/p>\n <\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| <\/td>\n | \n TOTAL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n $US 3 000 000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n \n 7.\t<\/span>Institutional framework<\/u>: An institution based on a co-operative firm, owned by at least 800 farmers, will be established.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n 8.\t<\/span>Available documentation<\/u>: Nidal R. Sabri, "Establishment of a<\/p><\/div>\n\n | | | | |