Nimrod Flaschenberg, a Writer and Activist, discusses the economic costs of Israel's war on Gaza, including decreased tourism and business activity. The podcast explores the financial impact of high military spending and the sustainability of the conflict. They also discuss the consequences of Israel's ban on Palestinian workers and the potential austerity measures due to increased war budget. The long-term sustainability of funding for settlements and occupation is also questioned.
Israel's war on Gaza is causing significant economic challenges, including declining tourism and struggling businesses.
The war's financial burden is placing Israel's government in a challenging situation, with increased spending and potential credit rating downgrade.
Deep dives
Impact of war on Israel's economy
Israel's war on Gaza is having a detrimental effect on its economy, with businesses struggling and tourism declining. The war has led to a massive call-up of military reserves, resulting in labor shortages and a significant impact on the workforce. Additionally, Israel is facing the financial burden of paying for the war expenses and compensating reservists for missed workdays. The scale of the current war, characterized by extensive attacks and invasion of Gaza, is unlike anything witnessed before, causing extensive human toll and economic challenges.
Israeli government's financial strain
Israel's government is facing a challenging financial situation due to the war in Gaza. The war has resulted in increased government spending, leading to budget revisions and billions of dollars in additional costs. Moody's, a US ratings agency, has even placed Israel's credit rating under review for a potential downgrade. The displacement of Israelis from areas near Gaza, the high military mobilization, and ongoing bombardment have amplified both the financial and human costs of the war.
Impact of labor restrictions on Israel's construction industry
The ban on Palestinian workers entering Israel has severely impacted the construction industry, which heavily relies on their labor. The lack of Palestinian workers has led to a loss of 2.4 billion shekels per month in the construction sector, causing financial strain. These workers used to earn significantly higher wages in Israel compared to the occupied West Bank, making their absence a significant blow to the economy. Moreover, the absence of Palestinian workers could potentially lead to social and political unrest in the West Bank.
Tourism is down, many businesses are empty, and the economic costs of Israel’s war on Gaza are mounting. With a $15bn increased war budget and military spending reaching new heights under Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, how long can Israel’s economy withstand the fight?
In this episode:
Nimrod Flaschenberg (@Nimrod_Flash), Writer and Activist
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Ashish Malhotra and Negin Owliaei with our host Malika Bilal. Fahrinisa Campana fact-checked this episode.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.
Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.