Turkey donates $ 10 million to build new industrial zone in Jenin • Palestinian economy minister: "We thank Erdogan for economic support"
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Photo:
IP
Turkey strengthens its influence in Judea and Samaria:
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's directive, Ankara has invested $ 10 million in building a new industrial zone in Jenin.
This is a significant move by Turkey, which usually diverts most of its investment to the Gaza Strip, following the hot relationship with Hamas, and to East Jerusalem - due to Erdogan's political considerations.
Palestinian Economy Minister Khaled al-Assili told the Turkish state news agency Anadolu that the Turkish investment would be directed to the internal structure of the industrial zone.
"There is a plan to build Turkish factories in the industrial area," he said.
Turkey is not the only country investing in the venture: Germany is investing 24 million euros in the first construction phase of the industrial zone, which focuses on external infrastructure and will be completed in mid-2021. The second phase, intended for the internal infrastructure of the industrial zone, is funded by $ 10 million from Ankara.
Photo: Foundation for the Protection of Democracies (FDD)
The investment comes through the Association of Turkish Bureaus and Stock Exchanges (TOBB), which received permission from President Erdogan to transfer the considerable sum to the Palestinian Authority for the venture.
This is a project planned for 1999, but ongoing procrastination has prevented it so far.
"We thank the President of Turkey, the Government of Turkey and the citizens of Turkey for their political support and support for the Palestinian economy," al-Assili said.
The industrial area will include, among other things, food factories, textiles and garages.
The Palestinian Authority estimates that the industrial zone, which will be spread over 1,100 dunams and located about three kilometers from downtown Jenin, will provide 5,000 new jobs directly and 15,000 indirectly.
"The Turkish state position treats Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip as one entity and therefore they work to encourage unity between the Palestinian factions," Dr. Chai Eitan Cohen Inrojek, a modern Turkish researcher at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and Center, told Israel Today. Moshe Dayan Tel Aviv University.
"Given that Erdogan provides humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, he balances this by making donations to various projects with the help of TİKA and TOBB. In this way, he maintains the positive image of Turkey in the eyes of Hamas and Fatah alike."