[Elder of Ziyon] What would happen if an Israeli tried to start a business in the PA-administered territories?

The Bethlehem Multidisciplinary Industrial Park is being built now and is due to open next month, with help from the IDF's COGAT:

Despite the fact that the park is located in Area "A", the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories has been involved in advancing the project. The Civil Administration facilitated permitting for all BMIP's secondary projects which required infrastructure that would run through Area C in the West Bank.

"I feel that the Civil Administration showed understanding and gave the project its full support every step of the way", remarked Hervé CONAN, Director of the AFD in the West Bank, "when challenges arose which were already beyond my control, the relevant officers responded positively and were partners in finding solutions. I think that it is a common goal for all the parties - to stimulate a new spirit of creativity and ambitiousness in this region in particular and in the West Bank in general."

"We appreciate all the support and assistance received from the Civil Administration throughout the project", explained Dr. Hazboun. "The project has not reached completion, they shall continue to create additional factories and companies here and I hope that the cooperation between all of us shall continue and that next year at least four new factories shall start operating".

On the website of the BMIP it gives the steps needed for a foreign investor to start a business in Bethlehem.

Since they are soliciting foreign investment, what would happen if an Israeli wanted to invest in an existing company or start a new one - completely under the PA's rules?

I could see, for example, someone opening up a clothing factory for modest women's dresses, manufactured in Bethlehem, that might appeal to both religious Jews and Muslims in Israel and Europe. Would that be allowed? Or would it be considered a "settler" business and its exports banned or labeled in Europe?

What about if the investor isn't Israeli but a Zionist Jew?

I honestly don't know the answers. But whatever they are, they would reveal a lot about how mature the PA is, as well as whether the European rules on "settler" items are consistent.

Anyone want to try?

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Posted By Elder of Ziyon to Elder of Ziyon at 7/24/2013 05:15:00 PM