WEST BANK (Dispatches) – The Palestinian city of Ariha in the northern occupied West Bank has incurred huge economic losses estimated in the millions of dollars due to the suffocating Zionist blockade imposed on the city since February. Local sources said the occupying regime continues to erect military checkpoints at the main entrances to the city and the surrounding refugee camps and have closed the military checkpoint at the southern entrance, which has delayed citizens and impeded their movement. The city is considered a main destination for internal and external tourism.
The head of Ariha’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tayseer Hamida, said the losses to the tourism sector in the city amounted to 221 million shekels (about $70 million) since last February, due to the strict military measures.