Pages

Monday, July 09, 2012

Rumor: PLO official calling to cut PA funding of Gaza

I have noted in the past that some 60% of the PA's budget goes towards Gaza - more than double the per capita spending in the West Bank -while Gaza is a separate entity in virtually every respect. I've also noted that if  the PA has a financial crisis it is because it continues to fund infrastructure and idle workers in Gaza, helping Hamas indirectly.

Arabic news reports now say that an unidentified member of the PLO Executive Committee is saying the same thing.

According to the story, the official said that the PA should cut the salaries of its (nonworking) staff of the Gaza Strip and stop providing services. The official allegedly said that the Palestinian Authority funded the "Hamas coup" against it with more than $138 million a month which prolongs Hamas rule in Gaza.