As if to demonstrate that that the Middle East is a place of irony, contradictions, misdirection, high emotion mixed with pragmatic, if often secretive, behavior, economic statistics from Israel show a growth in exports to Arab countries in 2001. The first year of the PLO terrorist onslaught, which has seen Arab countries virulently denouncing Israeli behavior and Jews in general, actually saw an increase of 8% in Israeli exports to Arab countries, totaling US$128 million. In contrast, Israeli exports worldwide decreased during 2001 by 5.5%, making the increase in exports to the Arab world all the more remarkable. Most of the increase, reports the Jewish Agency, was of textiles, chemical and agricultural products to Jordan and Morocco. There are approximately 70 Israeli firms that export directly to Arab countries.
While the Arab states are increasingly buying Israeli exports, a major French company has announced that it will be investing US$300 million in Israel?s water and energy infrastructures. In addition to its substantial investment in Israeli infrastructure projects, Suez, the world?s largest water corporation, is competing for a tender to construct a desalination plant in Haifa. The French company decided to make its investments in Israel at this time despite its extensive interests in Arab states, including places such as Syria and Libya.
While the Arab states are increasingly buying Israeli exports, a major French company has announced that it will be investing US$300 million in Israel?s water and energy infrastructures. In addition to its substantial investment in Israeli infrastructure projects, Suez, the world?s largest water corporation, is competing for a tender to construct a desalination plant in Haifa. The French company decided to make its investments in Israel at this time despite its extensive interests in Arab states, including places such as Syria and Libya.