Yesterday, Muhammad Abu Mohsen, from Baqa al-Gharbia inside occupied Palestine in 1948, did not think twice when he decided to come to the city of Tulkarm on the other side of the line within the borders of the occupied West Bank in 1967. He started his vehicle’s engine and set off at about six in the evening to shop and spend his needs, and then return to his home before midnight.

Abu Mohsen, 45, would not have done this act a few days ago, when Israel was closing its “Nettansani Oz” military checkpoint (Gate No. 104), which was built on the lands of Tulkarm in the northern West Bank for more than a year, as is the case with about 17 gates and a military border checkpoint by doing so. The occupation measures to limit the spread of the Corona virus, which caused economic and social damage to the Palestinian areas.

Abu Mohsen’s recent visit to Tulkarm did not take much time in preparation and planning. He immediately took his family and children and went to do some shopping and spend his needs. The road that used to take an hour and a half through “Jbara” checkpoint (far south of Tulkarm) only took 15 minutes after opening the “Nitzanani” checkpoint. Oz", as well as ease of entry and exit at any time.

support worker

Abu Mohsen tells Al Jazeera Net that his visits decreased after closing the gate to once every two months, while before that it was almost weekly if not daily for social and economic reasons. and Jews, and there is no autonomy for Arabs to live and reside.”

There is an economic factor that is no less important to Abu Mohsen in his attempt to support his people, he said, as he spends by visiting him once every two weeks more than $400, and in return he gets good goods and a full day of entertainment and tourism, at a cheaper price than inside his area of ​​residence in Israel.

Like Tulkarm, life began in the city of Jenin two weeks ago after the opening of the Jalameh checkpoint and the entry of thousands of Palestinians inside. The city, which is a gateway to the Palestinian north towards the West Bank, has suffered greatly due to the closure and paralyzed more than 60% of the commercial movement within it.

Israel weakens the Palestinian economy and forces it to depend on its economy through apartheid policies (Al-Jazeera)

accumulated losses

The tourism sector in particular lost more than 70% of its customers, while the losses of other sectors amounted to 80% due to their dependence mainly on shoppers from within the Green Line, which forced economic establishments that depend on the day-to-day operating system to lay off half or more of their workers. Says the Director General of Jenin Chamber of Commerce, Muhammad Kamil.

Camille, in his statement to Al Jazeera Net, estimated the loss of his city, Jenin, at about one billion shekels (a dollar is equivalent to 3.25 shekels) after the closure of the Jalameh checkpoint for 16 months. There were 3 million "repeated visits" from Palestinians inside Jenin in 2019.

Kamil indicated that the per capita expenditure during a single visit is about $100.

Jenin merchants also face a problem with a large part of the Palestinians inside, due to the closure, diverting to the Israeli market, and this makes them, as merchants, work to present their product in newer ways to attract customers again.

This is in addition to an irreparable loss - according to Camille - represented in the loss of labor and operational capabilities that went to work in other areas after the deterioration of conditions and the termination of their work in Jenin.

"It will not be early to wake up from the nightmare," says Camille, as the merchants have accumulated debts and others, especially since the talk is about a sustainable strategic work based on investments and partnership between the Palestinians of the interior and the West Bank, not just a purchase.

Since its opening, 6 to 8 thousand vehicles enter through the Al-Jalama checkpoint on a daily basis, and about 40 thousand Palestinians from inside travel to Jenin and cities in the West Bank on a daily basis.

About 40,000 Palestinians from the interior move to Jenin and the cities of the West Bank on a daily basis through the Al-Jalama checkpoint (Al-Jazeera)

Discriminatory and racist policies

In an economic symposium held more than a week ago by the Institute for Economic Policy Research (MAS) at its headquarters in Ramallah, a research paper presented by the researcher at the Institute, Rabeh Murar indicated that the value of spending for the 48 Palestinians in the Palestinian Authority areas doubled from 1.1 billion shekels in 2013 to reach Between 4.5 and 5 billion shekels in 2019.

Israel weakens the Palestinian economy and forces it to depend on its economy through apartheid policies on both sides of the Green Line, as well as policies of discrimination and marginalization through inspection procedures and obstacles aimed at limiting access to West Bank markets.

The social movement represented by communication between Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line is no less important than its economic counterpart, in addition to other services received by the Palestinians of 48 in the West Bank, such as education, medical treatment, and others. At the Arab American University in Jenin, more than 4,000 students are enrolled.

Khaled Shinawi, responsible for the "Palestinian Students 48" file at the mentioned university, said that the closure impeded the students' access and movement between the West Bank and the territories within the Green Line.