HAMAS PLEADING POVERTY. Meanwhile, according to Jerusalem Post:
PA Finance Minister Samir Abu Aisheh of Hamas said more than 9,500 new employees had been added to the public sector since the Islamist movement took power in March 2006...
The International Monetary Fund has estimated that despite the sanctions imposed since Hamas came to power in March 2006, foreign aid to the PA doubled to $700m. in 2006 over the previous year. Total foreign assistance to all Palestinian institutions - including that distributed by private Palestinian organizations - increased last year to $1.2 billion from $1b.
Katyushas aren't cheap.
Update: Meanwhile...
A former World Bank official who is about to become the Palestinian finance minister has warned foreign donors that he has no idea where much of their money has been spent.Someone tell Barack "Fight the Cynicism" Obama.
In the 14 months since Hamas won elections, Palestinian finances have descended into such chaos that there is now no way to confirm whether aid is going to its stated purpose, according to Salam Fayyad, 54, who is poised to start his second stint as treasury chief once the rival Hamas and Fatah factions finalise a “unity” government.
...Now, Palestinian Authority spending is out of control, salaries are being paid to workers who never turn up, and nobody can track where the money is going, according to Mr Fayyad.
Technorati Tag: Hamas.
1 comment:
Don't forget the building boom.
Along Highway 60 from Jerusalem to Tapuach you can see dozens of villages along both sides of the road. EVERY VILLAGE has tens of montrous new multi-unit homes going up. Elaborate gabled roofs and expensive stone siding. Where is all THAT money coming from? More to the point, who is going to live in all these new dwellings?
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