Palestinian Tycoon Nasar Challenges Israeli Restrictions in High Court Over Economic Barriers
From his luxurious residence in Beit Jala, Nasar Nasar, a leading Palestinian businessman, has launched a legal battle against Israeli policies that he argues have crippled the Palestinian economy. Nasar, who built a vast quarry and stone export empire spanning the West Bank, Europe, the US, and Gulf countries, filed two petitions with Israel's Supreme Court. One challenges restrictions at the Allenby Bridge crossing, and the other opposes the exclusion of Palestinian producers and traders from Gaza's goods market.
Nasar highlights the severe economic impact of the near-total severance of trade between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which once accounted for 35 to 40 percent of the Palestinian economy but has now nearly vanished. He accuses Israel of creating a monopoly by allowing only four Israeli companies to control goods entering Gaza, blocking direct Palestinian trade and weakening economic ties between the territories. Nasar insists that Palestinians view the West Bank and Gaza as a single market and calls for the removal of trade restrictions to enable Palestinian businesses to participate in Gaza's reconstruction.
Regarding the Allenby Bridge, Nasar describes it as a critical bottleneck for the 3.5 million Palestinians who rely on it for travel and trade. He criticizes the limited operating hours and inefficient management, which have drastically reduced passenger and export flows, harming the Palestinian economy. Nasar notes that expanding the crossing's hours in previous years increased traffic and economic activity, but current restrictions have reversed these gains.
Nasar also addresses broader economic challenges, including Israel's withholding of tax revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, which disrupts liquidity in the Palestinian private sector. He points to the problematic surplus of Israeli shekels in the Palestinian market due to currency flow restrictions and proposes reauthorizing an independent body to assess and manage the shekel volume to stabilize the economy.
Despite his sharp criticisms, Nasar remains pragmatic, emphasizing the mutual economic interdependence between Israelis and Palestinians. He warns that rising poverty and economic decline fuel instability and violence, harming both peoples. Nasar calls on Israeli authorities to ease restrictions on Palestinian workers and business cooperation, arguing that current policies serve neither side's interests and threaten regional stability. His legal petitions seek to compel Israel to uphold economic rights and prevent further deterioration of the Palestinian economy and the broader region's stability.
