Israel and the Palestinian Authority are working on plans for the establishment of five industrial parks close to the Green Line that are each meant to provide hundreds of Palestinians with jobs, Deputy Defense Minister Efraim Sneh confirmed yesterday.

Sneh told Haaretz that work on an industrial area has already begun in the area of Jenin and in Sha'ar Ephraim, close to Tul Karm. At the same time Israel is making plans to establish an industrial area in the Erez industrial zone, close the the Gaza Strip, that will be operated by Turkish contractors.

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In addition, there are contacts with private Palestinian investors for the establishment of an industrial zone close to the Karni crossing in the Gaza Strip, and also with the government of Japan for the creation of a similar park in the vicinity of Jericho.

Sneh also expressed criticism at the fact that the World Bank made no mention in its latest report, of the Israeli efforts to contribute to the Palestinian economy. In its report, the World Bank criticized Israel for effectively stymieing Palestinian economic development through policies that limit the freedom of movement of the Palestinian population in the West Bank.

The industrial park venture was presented by the defense establishment last January during a meeting of Israeli, Palestinian and American representatives at the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Richard Jones. The meeting dealt with the Agreement on Movement and Access of November, 2005.

The idea behind the venture is to establish work places in the territory of the Palestinian Authority in order to prevent excessive dependence by the Palestinian economy on jobs in Israel.

All the industrial parks will be established in Palestinian Authority territory, and Israel has committed to facilitating security and bureaucratic arrangements relevant to the projects.

Peretz appointed Hagai Alon to handle the project, and he is working closely with the official in charge of the crossings at the Defense Minister, Bezalel Traiber. Amos Gilad, who heads the diplomatic-security department, is also involved in the planning.

The industrial park near Jenin will be situated between the Jlame crossing and Jenin, and will include small areas for agricultural projects, stone cutting, storage of goods from Europe, and light industry.

Close to Sha'ar Ephraim, near Tul Karm, textile factories will be set up, as well as a factory for electronic processors, and home electrical appliances.

In Jericho, between the city and the Allenby crossing, a packing plant is planned for agricultural produce.

In the Gaza Strip, the two industrial parks involve investments by the Turkish government, and the revival of the industrial park at the Karni crossing.