Palestinian prime minister Muhammad Shtayyeh is visiting Europe in a bid to resume the faltering funding that used to be a blank check from the EU.
International funding to the Palestinian Authority has declined this year, for the first time in decades. While the EU says that it hasn't sent its usual $150 million to the PA this year for "technical reasons." it appears that European taxpayers do not want to continue paying for the PA's corruption.
Earlier this month Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde warned, "If we are to fully support economic development, then we can not have corruption at such a level as exists in Palestine."
A recent audit of the Palestinian Authority for the year 2020 revealed many examples of corruption and embezzlement of funds. These included misuse of funding for the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the “National Committee as a Permanent Capital for Arab culture,” abuses by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance, Al-Aqsa University and many other institutions. If lots of money is sent to the Palestinian government, you can assume that much of it is going into the pockets of their leaders.
The total aid expected by the Palestinian government this year is only 10% of the total pledges of donor countries to the PA. One official said that the funds expected to come later this month from France and the EU were earmarked in 2020, and the 2021 money has not yet come.
The rampant corruption of the Palestinian Authority is still barely reported in the media, even though it is well known to the international community and to Palestinians themselves. It contradicts the narrative that Palestinian suffering is all because of Israel, and therefore the media believes that reporting this will just confuse people - and cause them to lose interest in a conflict that is a cash cow for the news business.
