Love-ly Me

By April 2001, as a result of the persistent closure imposed by Israel, 2 million Palestinians — 64.2 percent of the population — lived below the poverty line. “During the 123 days between October 1, 2000 and January 31, 2001,” Roy adds, “economic borders were closed 93 days, or 75.6 percent of the time. Internal closures were in effect 100 percent of the time in the West Bank and 89 percent of the time in the Gaza Strip.” According to the United Nations (UN), “nearly half of the [Palestinian] population [is] living on $2 a day or less.