Arabs in Gaza have claimed they are notable to export their produce. They are selling an entire greenhouse for $3,000. One Egyptian farmer said he bought 11 greenhouses in the past week. Jewish farmers pioneered and developed the greenhouse industry in Gaza and provided income to thousands of Gaza Arabs by employing them. After the Oslo War began in 2000, the Arab economy rapidly began to deteriorate.
The Israeli government, backed by the Bush administration, argued that the expulsion of Jews from Gaza would help revive the Arab economy by giving the local population independence.
GUSH KATIF: FACTS IN BRIEF
IsraelNationalNews.com
Monday, April 19, 2004
* 21 communities, most of them founded some 20 years ago
* close to 8,000 residents
* over 20 yeshivot, schools and other educational institutions (not including nurseries and kindergartens)
* 900 acres of greenhouses growing bugless lettuce, cherry tomatoes, organic vegetables, spices, flowers, plants and more
* $60 million a year in exports - an average of $7,500 for every man, woman and child
* manufactures 70% of all of Israel's organic produce grown for export
* has faced over 4,000 mortar shells and Kassam rocket attacks, as well as 10,000 shooting incidents, at the hands of Palestinian terrorists over the past 3.5 years
* a 10% growth in population since the Oslo War began in September 2000
Katif after the government destroyed the Jewish communities more than two years ago, according to Reuters News Agency. It quoted Gaza resident Yahma Salama as saying, "The Egyptian greenhouses aren't as strong and can collapse in the wind ... The material they use to keep the viruses off the plants also isn't as good."