The crime rate in the territories has skyrocketed, and there are many attempts to extort money from wealthy people in the guise of nationalism. Theft from Israeli areas has increased greatly. Stolen cars go for a song now in the territories, about NIS 1,000. The price has plummeted because there is a good supply. Alienation between the administration and the masses has increased considerably of late.
Many older people are afraid to go out in the street.
They have been frightened by the murder in Gaza of the director general of Palestinian TV, Hisham Meki, who was accused of corruption and was shot to death on the Gaza beach. Hamas spokesmen denied any knowledge of it, but it is doubtful that this gave any comfort to the VIPs, who fear that the broadside was directed at them. The decline of the economy of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has been rapid. With the outbreak of the Intifada, less than five months ago, the Palestinian economy came to a sudden halt. Infrastructure work ceased.