Do Not Choke off Those Keeping the Economy Alive
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
I am pleased to share with you my latest analytical article entitled:
“Do Not Choke off Those Keeping the Economy Alive: How Has the Private Sector Become One of the Palestinian Economy’s Last Lines of Defense?”
The article examines the critical role played by the Palestinian private sector in sustaining employment, household incomes, production, trade, banking stability, and public revenues amid the continuing clearance revenue crisis, declining public spending, banking restrictions, the accumulation of surplus shekels, fuel supply disruptions, and threats to correspondent banking relations.
The analysis is based on a public opinion survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO) between 24 June and 5 July 2026. The survey included 503 Palestinians aged 18 and above from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. A specialized set of questions concerning the private sector, banking restrictions, and economic recovery priorities was answered by 300 respondents.
Among the article’s main findings:
- 74% agreed that the private sector has played an essential role in keeping the Palestinian economy functioning during recent crises.
- 72% believed that maintaining private-sector activity helps reduce unemployment and poverty.
- 71% considered revitalizing the private sector the fastest way to restart the economic cycle.
- 88.3% reported that banking restrictions had at least a moderate impact on companies’ ability to continue operating.
- 49.3% supported an integrated recovery package addressing private-sector activity, the clearance revenue crisis, the surplus of shekels, and support for small enterprises.
- 53.3% believed that an economic recovery plan should include all productive sectors.
The article introduces the concept of the “constrained Palestinian economic cycle” as an analytical framework for understanding how fiscal, political, banking, trade, and supply restrictions move from the public treasury to households, markets, businesses, employment, and public revenues.
It concludes that protecting the private sector does not mean granting special privileges to business owners. Rather, it means protecting employment, production, household incomes, the availability of goods and services, banking stability, and the Palestinian economy’s capacity to remain resilient during periods of severe crisis.
Please find the article attached in both English and Arabic. Alternatively, you may access it through the following link:
I hope you will find the article informative and relevant to the ongoing discussion concerning Palestinian economic resilience, private-sector development, banking stability, and economic recovery policies.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nabil Kukali
Founder and President
Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO)
Beit Sahour, Palestine