The paper describes how “tech entrepreneurs in occupied Palestine” are hindered by a lack of access to infrastructure. Particular immediate issues are identified: mobility, legal frameworks, payment gateways, and mobile Internet.

Mobility is a problem. Since Palestinian entrepreneurs may face harassment at Ben Gurion Airport, many are forced to take a much longer trip through Jordan. Recruited staff and investors wanting to visit startups in the region have also experienced difficulties. Reduced mobility leads to reduced international visibility, as one would expect.

The unsupportive legal system was inherited, and pressures on the government have prevented updates, including the establishment of Internet protocol (IP) laws. At the time of writing, PayPal was not available “for Palestinians in the West Bank or Gaza,” and even now does not permit cash transfers to private accounts. Amazon and Apple’s App Store present real difficulties to transferring funds into or out of the region. Furthermore, 3G was also not available at the time of writing, so transactions needed be done using short message service (SMS).

The literature suggests five dimensions of infrastructure inaccessibility, which subsume the particular problems just listed but also point out other less tangible difficulties: location (advantages of colocation, community), access to people/resources/skills, funding, global digital platforms, and politics and history. A strong information technology (IT) sector could improve the overall Palestinian economy and even lead to peace. The paper shows the importance of infrastructure, which is often overlooked, and why the Silicon Valley model does not apply everywhere. It provides much information and is readable.