11.   The Israeli closures cause extensive economic hardship in the Palestinian areas, where unemployment is high.

12.   Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has said the closure has caused up to nine million dollars in losses daily.

13.   Palestinians say the closures are causing severe hardship to the already impoverished people, and leading to the kind of frustration which fuels extremism.

14.   Palestinian officials say the closure has caused multi-million-dollar losses for the impoverished territories and created shortages of basic materials and medicines.

15.   Palestinian officials say the closure has caused widespread shortages and hardship and is costing some six million dollars per day in lost wages and trade.