New law banning Palestinian work in settlements not to be enforced immediately

No fines now for Palestinian settlement workers

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinians who violate a ban by their government on working in Israeli settlements will be given time to find other employment before facing punishment, a senior official said Wednesday, reflecting how hard it will be to enforce the measure in the job-strapped West Bank.

The law, which also prohibits the sale of Israeli settlement products in the West Bank, was signed this week by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Violators face up to five years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.

Palestinians view the more than 120 settlements that Israel has built across the West Bank as a key obstacle to setting up their own state. Supporters of the tough new legislation say it is the least Palestinians can do to stop helping settlements flourish.

Palestinian security forces have confiscated about $5.3 million worth of settlement goods since the Palestinian government announced a crackdown several months ago, Economics Minister Hassan Abu Libdeh said.

However, enforcing a ban on work in Jewish settlements could prove more difficult.

About 21,000 Palestinians work in the settlements. Despite a modest economic recovery, nearly a quarter of the West Bank’s labor force remains unemployed.

Abu Libdeh said the workers would not face immediate punishment. “We will give (them) a grace period, and then we will implement (the law),” he said. He would not say how much of a grace period is being offered.

Israeli officials denounced the law.

“While Israel is making great efforts to promote and improve the Palestinian economy, this order damages the chances of both economic and political peace,” said Silvan Shalom, Israel’s minister for regional cooperation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promoted the idea of “economic peace,” including closer economic cooperation with the Palestinians. He has done more than his predecessors to ease restrictions on Palestinian trade and movement, but Palestinians have dismissed Netanyahu’s plan as a poor substitute for real independence.

The Palestinians also took aim at four Israeli cell phone companies they said are operating illegally in the West Bank, without obtaining licenses or paying taxes to the Palestinian Authority.

Authorities are confiscating prepaid phone cards of these companies, said Palestinian Communications Minister Mashour Abu Daka.

The Israeli companies did not return calls seeking comment.

In Gaza, meanwhile, medical officials said a 20-year-old Palestinian died at a hospital after being shot by Israeli soldiers during a protest near a border crossing with Israel. The Israeli military had no comment.

Associated Press writer Grant Slater contributed to this report from Jerusalem.