Price hikes in Israel appear to be having a positive effect in the Palestinian Authority where sales are on the rise. Shopkeepers in eastern Barta'a in the northern part of Jenin in the West Bank told reporters that the recent price hikes in Israel have drawn locals to the shops. One shopkeeper named Hassan said merchants are so busy they don't have time to eat. The market in Barta'a has recently become a popular venue for Israeli Arab shoppers he said. They purchase goods at the market at cheaper prices than those in Israel he said, whether fruit, vegetables, bread or clothes.Barta'a is a town that straddles both sides of the Green Line in the Wadi Ara region. Eastern Barta'a is near Jenin and western Barta'a is in the Haifa region and is populated by Israeli Arabs.
