Palestinian economic gloom could hit dialogue with Israel: ILO

GENEVA: The tough economic reality of life in the Palestinian territories could threaten the revival of dialogue with Israel, the United Nation’s International Labour Office warned on Friday. Despite an improved climate between the two sides, conditions for Palestinian workers and their families remain extremely hard, the ILO said in its regular report on the region. While domestic output grew in 2004 following four years of recession in the Palestinian economy, the unemployment rate increased to 26 percent, reaching a record 224,000. The jobless total was not the only concern, the report said. Fewer than half of all men - and only 10 percent of women - of working age are employed. As a result, every employed Palestinian supports six others. However, 57 percent of all workers in the occupied territories received monthly wages that failed to lift a family of four out of poverty. Approximately 1.8 million Palestinians - about half the population - live in poverty, the report said. afp

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