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More Palestinians Find Work in Israel Despite Conflict
(AFP-Daily Mail-UK) The number of West Bank Palestinians working in Israel has almost doubled in the past five years, according to official Palestinian figures. Israel said the number of permits for employment in Israel had risen 160% since 2012. Palestinian workers typically earn between $70 and $100 per day working in Israel or in Jewish communities in the West Bank, compared to just $20-$30 with Palestinian companies, workers said. With unemployment rates in the West Bank at 18%, according to the World Bank, the revenue is vital for many families. "Palestinian labor is a win-win for both sides," an Israeli defense official said. The employees' salaries helped the Palestinian economy and contributed to calm in the West Bank. Waiting times at the checkpoints between the West Bank and Israel had been cut from 30 minutes to only a few.