Washington – Israel and Gaza are already facing economic costs from the fighting between them that has raged for the past two weeks, a spokesman from the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.
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The fiscal cost to Israel is estimated at 0.2 percent of its gross domestic product, though that number could increase if the fighting continues for long, IMF deputy spokesman William Murray said, citing figures from “various sources.”
He said the Israeli economy, especially the tourism industry and small and medium-sized firms, has also been hit, and GDP growth could slow further if the conflict continues.
“However, we need to make clear that once the conflict ends, we expect growth in Israel to rebound relatively quickly,” Murray said.
He added that without donor aid, Palestinian authorities will not be able to afford to reconstruct infrastructure and buildings after the conflict ends.
“Heavy damage to buildings, water and electricity infrastructure is already apparent, aggravating an already critical humanitarian situation (in Gaza),” Murray said.
“Absent additional donor financing, the Palestinian Authority does not have fiscal room to take on this additional burden (of reconstruction).”
This conflict has brought me to several realizations:
1. Hamas are terrorists, but the biggest terrorists are the liars and anti-semites that work in the UN, under the guise of ‘peace’ … makes me sick.
2. I have lived through several wars, living in EY for some, and Chutz Laaretz for some. This war feels different, on a physical and spiritual level. We always pray for and anticipate Moshiach, but it feels more real than ever now.
3. Third, and most importantly, this whole war has made me so proud to be a Jew. I don’t care what the world thinks. The chesed throughout yidden worldwide, the bravery of our soldiers, the care taken to minimize arab civilian casualties, the fact that when a soldier gets killed nebach, every jew worldwide cries like it was their own child, bottom line, we love life. We are Jews, we love life, we love eachother, we love Hashem, and the rest of the world that uses us a scapegoat can buzz off. Someone told me this week that Noson Tzvi Finkel ‘ztl said once that a chayal on the front lines has the same schar as a someone learning in beis medrash. These are our hero’s, the chayalim, the roshei yeshiva, the gedolim. MI KEAMCHA YISROEL!!!!!!
THE US GOVERNMENT should send $$$$$ to help the Israeli Civilians instead of the HAMAS TERRORISTS. Ask your Senator & Congressman/woman to pass a emergency aid bill
Yet they fight
Sure they don’t have enough money to rebuild their building and utilities? I am sure they’ll find the cash build more rockets.
Let these choleras not lob missiles into Israel and they wont have to worry about their dire financial circumstances. Faarbrent zollen zy vaaren!
Thank you so much for your beautiful heartfelt post. I’m proud to be able to call you my brother/sister. I too feel we are right before Moshiach, and received the following today:
“URGENT! Please share with as much people as possible. The Rav hamekoubal Nissim Shalom declared that his grandfather ZT”L appeared to him in a dream and revealed to him that the Machiach is at his door, and ordered him to let as many jewish people as possible know about it as well as many people as possible. The Rav insisted upon the fact that whoever will send this message will be saved from the suffering which are supposed to occur with the coming of Machiach and that whoever won’t do it will sustain a substantial loss of money. The Rav asked to send this message to at least 12 people, a number corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. It is a very favorable moment now in heaven , and to those who might be skeptical and not believe in the words of the Rav should know that the Rav would never make such a declaration without serious reasons to do so because it is forbidden
to give false hopes to the Jewish people. From the Rav Yoel Benharoushe. Thank you.”