Aid has played a significant and complex role in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPt). Total foreign aid stood at $2.6 billion in 2008, which represented a 1,350 per cent increase on 1993 levels. The literature focuses on the following areas:
- the role of aid in fostering development
- the complex political effects of humanitarian aid
- the impact of aid on the peace process and conflict, and
- the effect of aid on civil society.
While there is clear evidence that aid has had some positive short-term effects such as saving lives and bolstering support for the peace process, there is consensus in the literature that aid has been unable to foster sustainable development and that without addressing the fundamental barriers to development (Israeli blockades, military incursions and settlements), this will be difficult to achieve. There is also consensus in the critical literature that international aid has caused a variety of unintended negative consequences, which include legitimising and facilitating Israel’s occupation and its unlawful actions against the Palestinian people, fostering division amongst Palestinian political parties, depoliticising Palestinian civil society and the Palestinian cause, and creating a culture of dependency.
