Final answer:
The claim that most Palestinians are doing well economically is false. The economic situation is difficult with high unemployment and underemployment, compounded by military occupation and restricted access to resources like clean water and electricity, especially in Gaza. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to deeply impact Palestinian lives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that most Palestinians just want to be left alone and are doing quite well economically is false. The economic situation in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is difficult, with high unemployment rates averaging about 26 percent and underemployment affecting professionals with specialized skills. Palestinians living in these areas face significant hardship, including restrictions on movement due to military occupation and a lack of resources such as clean water and consistent electricity, particularly in Gaza, which has been described as an open-air prison.
The larger geopolitical context involves tensions and conflict between different Islamic groups over the recognition of Israel, as well as the broader Middle East geopolitics that are influenced by the Israeli-Palestinian issues. While political solutions such as the two-state solution have been proposed, they have yet to be implemented, and the reality for Palestinians involves navigating life under Israeli control and national jurisdiction, with limited autonomy.
It is also important to consider that there are cultural and cooperative efforts, like the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, where Palestinians and Israelis work together to create cultural bridges. However, these efforts do not mitigate the overall challenging economic and political conditions that Palestinians face on a daily basis.