It is believed that the Palestinian economy has dropped by at least 20 per cent, instead of growing at five per cent, as was previously expected. The Jordanian economy was also affected, although to a lesser degree. During the first three quarters of the past year, the Jordanian economy was growing at the rate of four per cent in real terms. Jordanian losses are not confined to the tourism sector and related activities which were devastated, but extend to the negative impact on foreign and local investments. For the purpose of this exercise, I am not taking into account the human cost of the Intifada, whereby some 400 so far paid with their lives and 4,000 others were injured.
Human life is, of course, priceless.
Heavy economic losses do not mean that the Intifada is not justified, or that the current Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation should be stopped at any price or with no preconditions. They only mean that the heavy costs and human sacrifices should not be incurred in vain. The costs and sacrifices must be translated as early as possible into political and national gains and achievements. The death of young men, women and children, and the material losses mentioned above are not in themselves a desirable objective of the Palestinian people. They are the price for the restoration of national rights.