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Israel

Split over plan to invest in Palestinians

February 25, 2016 10:20
Israel's Finance Minister, Moshe Kahlon

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

A plan by Israel's Finance Minister, Moshe Kahlon, to allow Palestinian companies greater access to Israel's building sector could herald a split in the cabinet over both security and housing policy.

It comes as another showdown brews between Israel's security establishment and the government over policy on Gaza.

Mr Kahlon's plan, which has been discussed with his counterparts in the PA, would allow Palestinian contractors and construction companies to participate in Israeli building projects, and perhaps even compete for tenders.

It is much more ambitious than previous, similar plans that merely called for more Palestinian construction workers to be allowed to enter Israel every day. Around 100,000 workers currently cross the Green Line daily for work, but less than half of them do so with permits.

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