IMF: Israeli steps boost Gaza growth from low base
A loosening of Israeli curbs on goods allowed into Hamas-run Gaza helped its economy grow by an estimated 16% in the first half of 2010, an International Monetary Fund official said on Monday.
But the growth was "from a very low base" and it is unlikely to continue without a further easing of restrictions, said the official, Oussama Kanaan, the IMF's resident representative for the West Bank and Gaza. Discussing the findings of an IMF report to be presented at a September 21 meeting in New York of donors to the Palestinian Authority, Kanaan told Reuters real economic growth in the Palestinian territories was forecast at 8% in 2010 compared with 6.8% last year. (Reuters)
