A glimpse at the Palestinians who build Israeli settlements

[azurnoir]

In the settlement of Ariel on Wednesday, Palestinian laborers readily admitted they were torn between politics and paychecks.

Dozens of them mixed cement, laid bricks and arranged red tiles on the roofs of 48 new apartments at a dusty construction site in what is already a town boasting 19,000 residents.

Most work eight-hour shifts five days a week and earn between $35 and $55 per day - which is somewhat less than what Israeli workers would cost, but more than what is generally available to Palestinians in the West Bank. There, similar jobs usually pay $25 per day in the Palestinian cities and $15 in rural areas.

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Another possible solution for the Palestinian workers is the planned city of Rawabi, which will be built from the ground up for 40,000 residents; but this massive project remains on hold because Israel has not given builders permission for a key access road.

At the construction site in Ariel, 32-year-old Abdel-Jaber Bouzia was doubtful any of these schemes would work. He did not fear the legal ban on working in the settlements and could hardly imagine their removal.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/a-glimpse-at-the-palestinians-who-build-israeli-settlements-1.324108