Israeli banks systematically discriminate against Palestinians over housing loans
The exacerbation of this phenomenon helps spread violence in Palestinian communities
Jerusalem24 – The Israeli business newspaper, The Marker, reported that Israeli banks deliberately pursue systematic policies that aim to exclude the Palestinians from housing loans and collect high commissions from them if they are approved for these loans.
The newspaper, which deals with economic affairs, explained in a report published today, Wednesday, that although the Palestinians constitute 20% of the population, the percentage of housing loans granted to them does not exceed 2%.
The report added that Israeli banks significantly limit the banking services granted to Palestinians, and charge them very high commissions compared to those collected from the Israelis.
The report attributed this to purely political reasons, and that it is not based on the economic situation of the borrowers, as 30%-50% of low-income Jewish families obtained housing loans, compared to only 10% of the Palestinians of the same income level.
The newspaper suggested that this policy is pushes Palestinians to go to the black market to find loans. They believe the exacerbation of this phenomenon helped spread violence within Palestinian communities in Israel, leaving countless Palestinians slain in criminal violence.
