Prospects for the Levant in 2021

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Bank ◽  
Economic Shocks ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Shifts

Significance However, in 2021 they will all face two common challenges: recovering from major economic shocks in 2020 and reorienting to US policy shifts under a Biden presidency. From Damascus to Beirut, to Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and on to Amman, they also face mutual contagion risks from instability.

Prediction model of business success or failure for Palestinian small enterprises in the West Bank

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir D. Baidoun ◽  
Robert N. Lussier ◽  
Maisa Burbar ◽  
Sawsan Awashra
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
West Bank ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Business Failure ◽  
Business Success ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Random Guessing

Purpose The aim of this study is to examine the factors that lead to success or failure of a small business in the West Bank of Palestine. Design/methodology/approach This study methodology is a survey research, testing the Lussier model of business success and failure with a sample of 246 small businesses (90 failed and 156 successful) to better understand the reasons of their success or failure using logistic regression statistical analysis. Findings The model is significant (p = 0.000); it will predict a group of businesses as successful or failed more accurately than random guessing 99 per cent of the time. The model will also predict a specific small firm as successful or failed 94 per cent of the time vs. 50 per cent for random guessing. The r-square is very high (r = 0.70), indicating that the model variables are, in fact, significant predictors of success or failure. Results indicate that having adequate capital, keeping good records with financial controls, making plans and getting professional advice on how to manage the firm are the most important factors for the viability and success of small businesses. Practical implications With the high rate of small business failure globally, results of this study provide a list of variables that contribute to the success of small firms. Firms that focus on these important factors will increase their odds of success. Thus, avoiding failure, firms better utilize resources that contribute to economic growth. Originality/value This is the first study that looks at success and failure of small businesses in Palestine. There is no one single accepted theory that may be applied to small businesses. This paper aims to further contribute to the global validity of Lussier success and failure model moving toward a theory to better understand why some businesses succeed and others fail.

Netanyahu corruption scandal could force early polls

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Bank ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Political Pressure ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Procurement Contracts

Significance The allegations against Netanyahu involve the acceptance of expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen and an attempt to close a confidential deal on coverage with the publisher of a major newspaper, who until now has been considered his arch-rival. Police are also investigating accusations relating to the role of Netanyahu’s personal lawyer in major procurement contracts between the Israeli navy and a German manufacturer. Impacts Public support for Netanyahu by ministers from his Likud party could be undercut in private. Netanyahu is likely to resist increased right-wing pressure to annex parts of the West Bank, fearing a US response. The accusations have put the premier under extreme political pressure, which might affect his responses to rising tensions with Gaza.

Israel-UAE deal will expand existing security ties

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Bank ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Arab States ◽  
Regional Partnerships

Significance The US-brokered deal reflects Washington’s priorities in fostering regional partnerships against Iran and in upgrading Israel’s relationships in the Gulf (ostensibly as a step towards resolving the conflict with the Palestinians). Impacts There is speculation an accord could be signed as early as next month, but this may be delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington will seek to strong-arm other Arab states, notably Sudan, Bahrain and Oman, into following the UAE’s example. The agreement provides cover for Netanyahu to abort already troubled plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Netanyahu’s exclusion of coalition partners and security officials from talks has raised further public concern over his trustworthiness. In Israel, the deal remains overshadowed by preoccupations with the pandemic’s health and economic consequences.

The risk of a major West Bank confrontation is rising

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Bank ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bank Risks

Headline ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS: The West Bank risks confrontation

Qatari role will isolate the Palestinian Authority

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Bank ◽  
Palestinian Authority ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type

Headline QATAR/PALESTINIANS: Doha will isolate the West Bank

Baku hopes Islamism will buttress Azerbaijani regime

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Political Islam ◽  
Relevant Factor ◽  
The West ◽  
Double Standards ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Government ◽  
Policy Shifts ◽  
Charlie Hebdo

Subject Indications from reactions to the Charlie Hebdo incident in Paris of a shift in Azerbaijan's geopolitical orientation. Significance The January 7 terrorist attacks in Paris against the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket received international condemnation. While Baku joined international public opinion in denouncing the attacks, official and semi-official outlets variously justified the attacks or claimed Western anger was tantamount to 'double standards'. Among the population, internet reactions echoed similar themes on social media, and religious protesters held rallies against Charlie Hebdo. While Azerbaijan and its regime are typically portrayed as models of absolutist secularism, reactions to the Paris attacks -- and foreign policy shifts in the past year -- indicate that political Islam is becoming an increasingly relevant factor in politics. Impacts The government will continue and probably increase its use of Islamic language and justifications as part of its campaign against the West. Yet at the same time, the authorities will continue to burnish their secular credentials in English-language and international outlets. Azerbaijan-Iran relations will continue in a positive trajectory. The regime will be willing to incorporate elements of Iranian Shia Islamism as a means of buttressing its security.

Israeli coalition will prove unstable in the long term

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Bank ◽  
The West ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Way

Significance It requires new legislation and changes to existing laws to establish and run the new government, including a mechanism to rotate the premiership between the pair. Many of the stipulations aim to provide guarantees, given the imbalance of power between Netanyahu and Gantz in the legislature, with the latter having split his own party by entering unity negotiations. Impacts The agreement paves the way for annexations of areas of the West Bank from July. The deal may yet be scuppered, and fresh elections called, if Netanyahu is forced from office because of his criminal indictments. Breaking conventions to offer key committee posts to the opposition may become contentious once the health crisis passes.

Cultural heritage wars may affect Israeli-Arab ties

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Us ◽  
Peace Accords ◽  
Trump Administration

Significance The ‘Abraham Peace Accords’ between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and between Israel and Bahrain, were signed in September, after being brokered by the US Trump administration. Deals with Sudan and Morocco have since followed. Impacts Palestinian complaints will become more pointed as other Arab-Israeli ties strengthen and tourism increases. The Biden administration could engage in more scrutiny of right-wing Israeli claims, especially over the West Bank settlements. As right-wing politicians entrench their dominance, archaeological finds will drive more nationalistic interpretations of the past.

Effect of change orders on rework in highway projects in Palestine

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Mahamid
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Highway Construction ◽  
The West ◽  
Highway Projects ◽  
Change Orders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims at identifying the main causes of change orders in highway construction projects, determining the factors that affect rework in highway construction projects, examining the relationship between change orders and rework and at developing a predictive model that will determine the impact of change orders on rework in highway construction projects in Palestine. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was used to identify the main change order causes and rework causes from the perspectives of contractors and consultants. The questionnaire contained 16 causes of change orders and 19 causes of rework which had been identified from the literature reviewed. The study also identifies the impact of change orders on rework based on data comprising 22 highway construction projects implemented in Palestine. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data. Findings The study concluded that the five most common causes of change orders can be identified as: change of project scope by owner (additional – enhancement), lack of coordination between construction parties; owner’s financial difficulties, change in materials, and errors and omissions in design. The study has also established that among the various factors that causes rework, non-conformance with specification requirements, scope changes, late design changes, lack of labor experience, lack of labor skills and improper subcontractor selection top the list. Using regression analysis, the results reveal a significant relationship between change orders and rework cost in highway construction projects in Palestine. Practical implications By ranking the various change orders causes and rework causes from the perspectives of consultants and contractors, the study provides a fresh perspective on an old chronic problem in the construction sector. This study has provided evidence on the most significant change orders causes and rework causes in the Palestinian highway construction, as well as the impact of change orders or rework on constructions sites. Finally, although this study is specific to the country of Palestine, its results can be applicable to other developing countries facing similar problems in their public construction sectors. Originality/value The results address the common causes of change orders and reworks in highway construction projects in Palestine. The results also address the relation between change orders and rework cost based on data collected from highway construction projects implemented in the West Bank in Palestine. This study is the first study conducted in the West Bank in Palestine to identify the change orders and reworks causes in highway construction projects.

Critical success factors of small and medium-sized enterprises in Palestine

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Alfoqahaa
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
West Bank ◽  
The West ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Specific Investment ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Brand Reputation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the success of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Palestine, and thus to contribute to the existing knowledge on the critical success factors (CSFs) of SMEs in the Palestinian context, especially in the West Bank. Design/methodology/approach The study is comprised a survey of a convenience sample of 370 SMEs operating in the West Bank, Palestine. It uses a multiple regression analysis to examine the effect of a set of CSFs, namely, reputation of the brand, excellence of customer services, reliable delivery and product innovation on the success of SMEs. Findings The results show that brand reputation, excellence of customer of services and reliable delivery strongly influence SME success, while innovation is weakly associated with SME success. These results imply that success is tied to customers and competition more than to production, structures or finance. That is, reputable brands, excellent customer service and reliable delivery are means to success according to the results of this research. Practical implications The study emphasizes the need for Palestinian SMEs to maintain and develop their brand reputation, institutionalize customer service and develop its logistical systems and practices. Generally, the study suggests that there are specific investment areas for SMEs that can contribute to achieving success. Specifically, excellence in customer service was found to be the factor most linked to the success of SMEs, followed by reliable delivery and then by brand reputation and innovation. Originality/value While plenty of research has been done on what contributes to the failure or success of SMEs, research on CSFs for SMEs is limited. The study combines four CSFs not previously used in combination to model the successful performance of SMEs in general and in the Palestinian context in particular. Only some specific factors are critical to the success of SMEs and should be the focal point of SMEs’ efforts as long as they are consistent with their nature as small economic entities competing with big companies in small markets. Thus, instead of using general factors of SME success, the study explains how success becomes more possible through specifying areas for decision-making or activities for the entrepreneurs to undertake, keeping in mind that there is a mechanism by which these factors work together toward the success of the SME.

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