Press Releases

PCBS: Special Nakba-61 Report
PCBS: Special Nakba-61 Report

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics described the Nakba of Palestine as a black period in the modern history of the Palestinian people. The Palestinians were driven out of their homeland, and their homes and property were taken away from them; they were banished and displaced all over the world to face all kinds of suffering and problems. More than three quarters of historic Palestine was occupied in the Nakba of 1948. Moreover, 531 Palestinian towns and villages were destroyed and 85% of the Palestinian population were banished and displaced.

Nakba: Ethnic cleansing and population replacement

A Nakba in literary terms is expressive of natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes. However, the Nakba of Palestine was an ethnic cleansing process as well as destruction and banishment of an unarmed nation to be replaced by another nation. Contrary to natural catastrophes, the Palestinian Nakba was the result of man-made military plans and a conspiracy of states that unfolded a major tragedy for the Palestinian people. More than 800,000 out of 1.4 million Palestinians (the Palestinian population in 1948 living in 1,300 Palestinian towns and villages) were driven out of their homeland to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, neighboring Arab countries and the remaining countries of the world. According to documented evidence, (www.palestineremembered.com), the Israelis took over control of 774 towns and villages during the Nakba and destroyed 531 Palestinian towns and villages. Israeli forces atrocities also include more than 70 massacres against Palestinians and killing 15,000 Palestinians during the Nakba period.

Demographic situation: Palestinians have multiplied 7 times since the 1948 Nakba

According to statistical data, the Palestinian population in 1948 totaled 1.4 million compared to approximately 10.6 million by the end of 2008. Hence, the number of Palestinians worldwide is 7 times the total at the time of the Nakba. Moreover, data showed that the total number of Palestinians living in historic Palestine (between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea), by the end of 2008 totaled 5.1 million compared to 5.6 Jews. In light of the new revised total population according to the results of Population, Housing, and Establishment Census 2007, it is expected that the Palestinian and Jewish population in historic Palestine will be equal by 2016.

Statistical data showed that refugees in the Palestinian Territory constitute 43.6% of the Palestinian Territory population. UNRWA records at the end 2008 showed that the number of Palestinian registered refugees in UNRWA’s five working areas totaled 4.7 million, constituting 44.3% of the total worldwide Palestinian population; The distribution is 41.8% living in Jordan, 9.9% in Syria, 9.0% in Lebanon, 16.3% in the West Bank, and 23.0% in Gaza Strip. About one third of Palestinian registered refugees live in the 59 refugee camps, of which 10 are in Jordan, 10 in Syria, 12 in Lebanon, 19 in the West Bank, and 8 in Gaza Strip.

UNRWA estimates represent the minimum estimates for Palestinian refugees since they do not take into consideration non-registered refugees. In addition the estimated figure does not include Palestinians who were displaced between 1949 and the 1967 war or the non refugees who left or were deported during the 1967 war. It also excludes the 154,000 Palestinians who did not leave their homeland in 1948 and who now are estimated to be 1.2 million Palestinians on the 61st anniversary of the Nakba. Their sex ratio is 103.7 males to 100 females. Moreover, the percentage of individuals under the age of 15 years is 40.0% of the excluded population and 3.1% for those who are 65 years old and over. This shows that their society is young, as is the Palestinian society as a whole.

The Palestinian population in the Palestinian Territory is estimated to be 3.88 million at the end of 2008, of which 2.42 million are in the West Bank and 1.46 million are in Gaza Strip. The Palestinian population in Jerusalem governorate is estimated to be 379 thousand at the end of 2008; of which 62.1% live in those parts of Jerusalem, which were annexed forcefully by Israel in 1967. The Population, Housing and Establishment census 2007 results showed that 43.6% of the population in the Palestinian Territory are refugees; while the percent of refugees are 27.2.0% in the West Bank and 67.9% are in Gaza Strip. The fertility rate in the Palestinian Territory is considered high compared to other countries. The total fertility rate in 2007 was 4.6 births: 4.1 births in the West Bank and 5.3 in Gaza Strip.

Population density: The Nakba has made Gaza Strip the most populated place in the World

The population density in the Palestinian Territory reached 645 persons/km2: 427 persons/km2 in the West Bank and 4,010 persons/km2 in Gaza Strip in 2008. In Israel, on the other hand, the population density reached 334 persons/km2 for Arabs and Jews in 2008.

Settlements: Most settlers live in Jerusalem to make it Judaized

Most Jewish settlers live in Jerusalem governorate. According to data, the number of Israeli settlements in the West Bank totaled 144 in 2008. Preliminary estimates show that the number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank totaled half a million in 2008. Data reveal that most settlers live in Jerusalem governorate, representing 54.6% of the total settlers in the West Bank, including 42% in J1 (those parts of Jerusalem which were annexed by Israel in 1967).

The Expansion and Annexation wall swallows about 15% of the West Bank area

The total length of expansion and annexation wall is 770 kilometers. 409 kilometers (53.1%) of the wall have been completed. An additional 248 kilometers is planned for construction and 113 kilometers is under construction. The wall isolates 733 square kilometers of the land. The eastern wall, which expands from the north to the south, is estimated at 200 kilometers in length. This wall allows the Israeli Occupation to isolate and control the Jordan Valley area, which is considered to be the food basket of Palestine and the main source of food for the Palestinian people.

Land use: Israeli restrictions deprive Palestinians of using more than one-third of the West Bank

The area of the Palestinian Territory is 6,020 square kilometers including 5,655 square kilometers in the West Bank and 365 square kilometers in Gaza Strip. The percentage of built-up land in Israeli settlements is 3.3% of the West Bank area (excluding areas surrounding settlements, military locations, and bypass roads, etc). Data of the United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian (OCHA) indicate that 38% of the West Bank total area is classified as beyond the reach of Palestinians.

Water: Water in the Palestinian Territory

Preliminary data from the Palestinian Water Authority for the year 2008 indicated that the amount of water purchased for domestic use from the Israeli Water Company (Mekorot) amounted to 47.8 million m3 in the West Bank. Data shows that the quantity of water purchased from the Israeli Water Company (Mekorot) increased over during the period 2005-2008 with 42.2, 43.9, 49.4, and 47.8 million m3 respectively.

The annual available water quantity in the Palestinian Territory was 335.4 million m3 in 2007. Data also show that the quantity of water supplied for domestic use in the Palestinian Territory was 175.6 million m3 in 2007, and that the daily allocation per capita of the supplied water for domestic use in the Palestinian Territory was 135.8 (liter/capita/day). It reached only 46.6 (liter/capita/day) in Tubas Governorate. Data for the year 2008 indicated that 123 localities (22.9%) in the Palestinian Territory, all of them in the West Bank, with 177,275 persons have no public water network.

Regarding the main source of water, data show that 116 localities were connected to public water networks in the Palestinian Territory in 2008, and these localities obtain their water through the Israeli (Mekorot) company with 454 thousand persons (12.1% of the total population in the Palestinian Territory).

110 of the localities connected to public water networks in the West Bank in 2008 obtain water through the Israeli (Mekorot) company, while 112 of the localities connected to the public network in the West Bank obtain water through the West Bank Water Department. However, in Gaza Strip, 17 of the localities connected to the public network obtain water through wells, and only 6 localities obtain water through the Israeli (Mekorot) company.

The results indicated that 157 localities in the Palestinian Territory depend on underground water wells as an alternative to the public water network. 421 localities in the Palestinian Territory depend on rainwater collecting wells as an alternative to the public water network. The results of 2008 also showed that 88.2% of the households in the Palestinian Territory live in housing units connected to the water network (84.2% in the West Bank, and 97.0% in Gaza Strip).

 

Continuous struggle to liberate the land and build the state

Martyrs

The number of al Aqsa Intifada martyrs between September 29, 2000, and December 31, 2008, reached 5,901 (5,569 males and 332 females). The number of martyrs in the West Bank reached 2,162 (2,038 males and 124 females). The number of Gaza Strip martyrs reached 3,702 (3,496 males and 206 females). The rest of the martyrs are from the 1948 land and outside the Palestinian Territory. The year 2002 was the bloodiest year of the Intifada when 1,192 Palestinians were killed followed by 2004 when 895 Palestinians were killed. The number of martyrs below 18 years of age totaled 969 (18.1%).

Detainees

According to data from the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees published in a report on the Prisoner’s Day (April 17, 2009), Israel detained more than 68,000 Palestinians during Al-Aqsa Intifada. The report also shows that there are 11,000 Palestinians still behind Israeli bars including 68 female detainees, 400 children, hundreds of sick people, and 334 parsons detained before the signing of the Oslo Accords. The detainees also include 95 people who have spent more than 20 years in detention and dozens of Arab detainees.

The data of the Ministry also show that Israel has since 1967 detained 800,000 people which represent 25% of the population. This percentage is the highest in the world, and does not include the thousands of persons who were arrested and detained for short periods and then released.

Poverty: Palestinians suffer poverty after 61 years of Nakba

Since 1948, and due to the Israeli measures, Israeli theft of natural resources, and increasing dependency on the Israeli economy, the Palestinian economy has suffered serious damage and deterioration in all economic and social indicators of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The quality of life of the Palestinian people has worsened. According to estimates, the poverty rate among Palestinian households during 2007 in accordance with actual consumption patterns reached 34.5% including 23.6% for the West Bank and 55.7% in Gaza Strip. The monthly income of 57.3% of Palestinian households is below the national poverty line: 47.2% for the West Bank and 76.9% for Gaza Strip.

Health Status: Health specialization population ratios are still very low

According to 2008 data, the number of physicians who are registered with the physicians association in the West Bank was 2,941 or 0.8 doctor for every 1000 people. On the other hand, the number of physicians who are registered with the physicians association in Gaza Strip in 2007 was 3,452 or 2.4 doctors for every 1000 people. Moreover, according to 2008 statistics, there are 1.5 nurses for every 1000 people in the West Bank, whereas according to 2007 data there are 3.2 nurses for every 1000 people in Gaza Strip. The number of registered midwives for every 1000 people in the West Bank is 0.16, according to 2008 data, while the number of the registered midwives in Gaza Strip, according to the 2007 data, is 0.1 for every 1000 people.

On the other hand, 2007 data showed that the number of operating hospitals in the Palestinian Territory were 77: 53 hospitals in the West Bank, and 24 in Gaza Strip. Data also showed that 24 hospitals were run by MoH, 25 hospitals were run by NGOs, 25 were run by the private sector, 2 were run by military institutions and one hospital was run by UNRWA. On the other hand, 2007 data showed that the number of hospital beds in the Palestinian Territory were 5,067 beds, or 1.3 bed for every 1000 people, 2,939 beds in the West Bank and 2,128 in Gaza Strip. 2007 data also showed that the number of primary health care centers were 665 centers, 532 in the West Bank and 133 in Gaza Strip. The data showed that 414 centers were run by MoH, 198 centers were run by NGOs, and 53 were run by UNRWA.

Premature births and low birth weight were the main causes of infant mortality. Prenatal conditions constitute the main cause of mortality among under five years children. Heart diseases are the main cause for mortality among the elderly (60 years of age and above) in 2007.

According to the 2007 data of the Ministry of Health, premature births and low birth weight were the main causes of infant mortality, constituting 25.7% of infant mortality in the Palestinian Territory. The percentage is higher in Gaza Strip in comparison with the West Bank at 36.2% and 13.4%, respectively. The third highest cause of infant mortality is respiratory system infections, which causes 24.1% of infant mortality in the Palestinian Territory: 40.1% in the West Bank, and 10.3% in Gaza Strip. On the other hand, prenatal conditions constitute the main cause of mortality among under five years children, causing 44.1% of under five years children mortality: 46.7% in the West Bank and 41.9% in Gaza Strip. Heart diseases are the main cause of mortality among elderly (60 years of age and over) at 28.3% for the Palestinian Territory; 30.0% in the West Bank and 25.5% in Gaza Strip.

Agriculture: Israeli measures extend to trees, stones and animals

Estimated data show that the number of trees destroyed from September 28, 2000, until November 30, 2008, in the Palestinian Territory reached about 1.6 million trees. The destroyed area was about 2,845 dunums of greenhouses, 13,237 dunums of vegetables, and 14,310 dunums of field crops. In addition, the number of killed animals was 15,889 head of sheep and goats, 1,362 head of cattle, and 1,312 thousand poultry, in addition to the destruction of 18,508 beehives. Moreover, regarding infrastructure and agricultural businesses, destruction during the same period amounted to 471 wells with their equipment, 38,508 dunums of irrigation networks, 1,074,990 meters of main pipelines, 1,883 of irrigation pools, 930 agricultural stores and 1,866 of animal barns and stables. PCBS estimated the direct losses of agricultural land and the requirements from intermediate consumption and infrastructure to US $170 million, while daily losses to the agriculture sector, fisheries, were US $311 thousand during the Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip.

The results showed that 1,835 thousand dunums of Palestinian farm land were cultivated in the Palestinian Territory during the agricultural year 2006/2007, of which 90.1% were in the West Bank and 9.9% in Gaza Strip. Fruit trees constituted 63.5% of the cultivated area of the Palestinian Territory, while vegetables and field crops comprised 10.2% and 26.3% of the cultivated Palestinian areas respectively. In Gaza Strip 73.3% of the cultivated area rely on irrigation, compared with only 8.3% for the West Bank.

Housing conditions: Crowded housing units and high number of damaged housing units by the occupation

Total housing units that were damaged by Israeli occupation in Jerusalem from the year 2001 until the end of May 2008 was about 797 housing units, with a total area of 90,061 m2 and total number of rooms demolished were 2990 rooms. As for the losses in Gaza Strip during the Israeli aggression at the end of 2008, which lasted through the beginning of the year 2009, the number of completely destroyed housing units was about 4,100 housing units, and partially damaged buildings and housing units about 17,000.

The data indicate that the average number of persons per room in housing units in the camps was 1.8 persons in 2007, while 12.9% of the households in the camps of Palestinian Territory live in housing units with a housing density of 3 or more persons per room. The percentage of households in the camps in the West Bank was 15.7% of households, while the percentage in camps in Gaza Strip was 11.5% of households.

Labour market: High unemployment rates and low participation in economic activity

The participation rate in the labour force in the Palestinian Territory in 2008 reached 41.3% (39.8% among refugees and 42.5% among non-refugees). The participation rate in the West Bank reached 43.0% (42.4% among refugees and 43.3% among non-refugees) compared to 38.1% in Gaza Strip (37.5% among refugees and 39.5% among non-refugees). The unemployment rate in the Palestinian Territory reached 26.0% (29.6% among refugees and 23.4% among non-refugees). The unemployment rate in the West Bank was 19.0% (19.9% among refugees and 18.5% among non-refugees) compared to 40.6% in Gaza Strip (39.2% among refugees and 43.4% among non-refugees). The service sector is considered the largest employing sector for refugees in the West Bank at 30.6% followed by trade sector at 20.8%. In Gaza Strip, the service sector employs more than half of employed persons (52.0%) of refugees followed by agriculture, hunting and fishing sector at 28.4%. The average daily wage in the Palestinian Territory is NIS 91.0 (NIS 87.8 for refugees and NIS 93.3 for non-refugees). In the West Bank, the average daily wage is NIS 98.6 (NIS 100.2 for refugees and NIS 97.8 for non-refugees). On the other hand, in Gaza Strip, was NIS 60.9 (NIS 63.6 for refugees and NIS 54.7 for non-refugees). The dependency ratio in the Palestinian Territory for 2008 was 5.9: 4.9 in the West Bank and 8.5 in Gaza Strip.

Education: Palestinians invest in education as a strategic option

The primary data for the scholastic year 2007/2008 indicated that the number of schools in the Palestinian Territory was 2,430 schools, distributed by supervising authority as follows: 1,833 governmental schools, 309 UNRWA schools, and 288 private schools. Of these, 1,809 schools were in the West Bank, and 621 schools were in Gaza Strip. The number of pupils in these schools was 1.1 million, of which 549,000 were males and 549,000 were females. The number of students in the West Bank was 654,000 and in Gaza Strip 448,000 and distributed according to supervising authorities as follows: 767,000 enrolled in governmental schools, 253,000 enrolled in UNRWA schools, and 78,000 enrolled in private schools. The number of school teachers was 43,559 (19,430 males and 24,129 females), of which 27,448 were in the West Bank and 16,111 in Gaza Strip. As well, the illiteracy rate among Palestinian individuals aged 15 years and above in 2008 was 5.9% (2.9% for males and 9.1% for females). In the Palestinian Territory, there are 11 universities and 13 university colleges offering programs leading to the bachelor degree: 3 universities and 4 university colleges are in Gaza Strip, and 8 universities and 9 university colleges are in the West Bank. There are 19 intermediate community colleges; 14 in the West Bank and 5 in Gaza Strip.

Data from Al-Haq institution show that the number of schools and universities closed by Israeli military orders until May 22, 2006 was 12. Teaching at 1,125 schools and universities was hindered by Israeli acts of aggression. Moreover, 359 schools and education departments and universities were shelled by Israeli troops, who also made 43 schools unto military barracks and killed 845 students and wounded 4,780 students and employees from the education sector.

Macro-economy: a rise in prices and Gaza under siege and a decline in the performance of economic sectors

Average cost of living in the Palestinian territories increased 43.13% in 2008 compared with 2000, 45.68% in the West Bank and 36.48% in Gaza Strip. The rate is much higher than in Israel, in spite of the clear disparity in wages and salaries between Israel and the Palestinian territories, due to economic dependence of the occupation and the high proportion of imports from the Israeli market, especially food and fuel being the most consumed commodities in the market, and the Palestinian and Israeli control of quantities and prices of these commodities. The high prices increased in the Palestinian territories during the past few years, especially in the second half of 2007 and 2008, and repeated Israeli violations of the closure of the crossings, and increased barriers in the Palestinian territories, in addition to the repeated Israeli aggression on the land, rights and wealth, has had a significant impact on the Palestinian economy and thus higher prices.

The Palestinian National Accounts 2007 at constant prices indicate that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Remaining West Bank and Gaza Strip was US $ 4,535.7 million. The per capita share of GDP amounted to $1,297.9. In addition to that, there was a decline in the GDP in Remaining West Bank and Gaza Strip in the Hotels and Restaurants activities, Construction activity, Public administration and Defense activities and the activities of Mining, Manufacturing, Electricity and Water Supply, decreasing by 25.6%, 10.6%, 6.9%, 3.4% respectively during 2007 compared with 2006. In addition, the GDP recorded a growth rate of 1.2% at current prices compared with 2006, and a growth rate of 11.4% compared with 2000. Meanwhile the GDP per capita at current prices in 2007 amounted to $ 1,337.0 with a decrease by 1.9% compared with 2006, and also by 8.1% compared with 2000.

Tracking the structure of the Palestinian economy, we notice that the Palestinian economy is service-oriented at the top level, and the economic activities such as Agriculture and fishing, Mining, Manufacturing, electricity and Water in addition to Construction declined. The findings show Agriculture and fishing activity contribution decreased from 10.9% during 1999 to 6.3% in 2007. On the other hand, manufacturing activity contribution decreased from 14.8% in 1999 to 12.6% in 2007. The Construction activity contribution decreased from 11.2% in 1999 to 6.5% in 2007, while the contribution of service activity increased from 20.7% in 1999 to 22.1% during 2007. On the other hand, Transport, Storage and Communications activity contribution doubled from 3.9% in 1999 to 6.1% in 2007.

Trade exchange

The data available at the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reveals that the lowest value of exports and imports for the West Bank and Gaza strip was in 2001 and 2002 because of Al Aqsa Intifada and began to increase since 2003. The results reveal that the value of imported goods in 2007 totaled to US $ 3,141.3 million; on the other hand, the value of imported services for the same year totaled to US $ 104.7 million. The value of exported goods in 2007 totaled US $ 513.0 million. The value of exported services to Israel totaled US $ 121.8 million in the same period. The net trade balance on goods had a deficit of US $ 2,628.3 million in 2007, with a 9.9% increase compared with 2006. The net trade balance on services for 2007 scored a surplus of US $ 17.2 million.

Economic establishments: Defy the siege

The final results of the Establishment Census 2007 and the update to December 31, 2008 shows that the number of economic establishments in the Palestinian Territory between October 20, 2007, and November 10, 2007, totals 132,938 establishments. The figure does not include those parts of Jerusalem governorate which were annexed by Israel in 1967. The figure includes 94,270 establishments in the remaining West Bank and 38,668 establishments in Gaza Strip. There are 109,476 operating establishments in the Palestinian Territory, in the private sector, NGO sector, and government companies. These establishments employ 299,754 persons.

Information Society

According to the Business Survey on Information Technology and Communications, 2007, the results showed that 21.1% of the total enterprises in the Palestinian Territory used computers in 2007, with 23.1% in the West Bank compared to 16.3% in Gaza Strip. The percentage of enterprises that use the Internet is 12.7% of the total enterprises, 67.8% of the enterprises that use computers use the Internet (68.0% in the West Bank and 67.3% in Gaza Strip). The percentage of enterprises that have both commercial transactions electronically via the Internet or networks is 2.1% of the total enterprises.

The estimated number of employees in the private sector specialized in the field of informatics and communication is about ten thousand workers, representing 3.5% of the total of the workers. The number of students specialized in these areas is about five thousand, representing 3% of the total students in the year 2008.

From studying the trends in prevalence of information technology in the Palestinian society, use is expected to be doubled during the next five years. Infrastructure and access to information technology has developed significantly between 2000 and 2006, the percentage of households owning a computer was 33% in 2006, three times of the percentage in 2000. The availability of Internet service for households increased by ten times between 2000 and 2006 to reach 15% and owning mobile phone increased in 2006 compared with the year 2000 to reach 81%.