topic by
John Calvin
7/4/2002 (21:06) |
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Israeli defence minister says extended fight would strangle economy: JERUSALEM, July 04: Israel's economy cannot bear the burden of a long-term military operation, Israeli Defence Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said in published remarks today. 'If Israel continues to live in warfare for years, it will not be able to rehabilitate its economy,' Ben-Eliezer told an economic conference. (DPA) (Posted @ 16:05 PDT)
thr 042
Israel-Economy /WRD/
More bad news for Israeli economy
Al-Khalil, July 4, IRNA -- Israeli officials continued to draw a bleak
picture of the Israeli economy despite constant efforts by the regime
to encourage growth and create jobs.
Former Zionist Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday described
the state of the Israeli economy as 'fragile.'
Earlier, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon admitted that 'we are going
through difficult times.'
Aalso, Zionist finance minister Silvan Shalom admitted, rather
belatedly, that foreign investors had virtually lost confidence in the
economy of the Zionist state.
Meanwhile, other economic indicators continued to illustrate the
downturn course of the Israeli economy.
This week, statistical figures released by the Zionist regime
showed that only 33000 tourists visited Israel in group tours in the
first half of 2002, compared with 116,000 in the corresponding period
in 2001, and 500,000 in the first half of 2000.
The figures also showed that group tourism is 70% below the level
in the corresponding period last year and 94% less than in 2000.
The group tours arriving in Israel this year were so-called
'solidarity tours' that stayed for brief periods.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Hebrew newspaper, Ha'aretz, reported
Thursday that European investments in Israel all but evaporated due to
the 'security situation.'
The paper quoted Max Burger Calderon, chairman of the European
Venture Capital Association, as saying that the Palestinian uprising
dealt a sharp blow to Israel's technology sector.
'He said with rare frankness what Israelis refuse to hear: the
Nasdaq didn't cause Europeans to avoid investing in Israel. The
Palestinian intifada and security situation did.'
The paper said Burger-Calderon's comments caused a storm in Israel
and that Israeli technology sector managers have difficulty accepting
them.
KA/NK/KS
End
::irna 14:57
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