Bypassing the Blockade: Risky Business

In order to cope with the Israeli blockade, millions of dollars have been invested in tunnels between Gaza and Egypt. Israel has bombed many of them. Now investors want their money back.

1 minute read

October 14, 2009, 12:00 PM PDT

By Alek Miller

"The investment drive started about a year ago, he [Bloomberg journalist, Jonathan Ferzinger] says, after it had become clear that tunnels were the only way to beat the Israeli blockade.

'All sorts of stuff was going under the border, everything from iPods to cows,' he told the BBC's World Update programme.

'As this became the only going enterprise in Gaza, people saw it as an investment opportunity.'

"Whatever compensation deal is reached with the investors, it is clear the tunnellers are not going away."

"Mr [Omar] Shaban [director of the Gaza-based economic research institute Pal-Think] stresses that the Israeli blockade is at the heart of the problem.

It has created an 'economic structure that is neither registered nor documented nor transparent,' he says."

FULL STORY: Going under in the Gaza Strip

Friday, October 9, 2009 in BBC News

Community / Economic Development Government / Politics Middle East Israel Palestine Gaza View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.