ZAD ARAFATA TO TERRORYZM,KOTUPCJA I KRYMINALNOSC:

Gość: al Haj .................................The End of Arafat IP: *.cm-upc.chello.se 01.07.02, 19:21

Monday, July 01, 2002 Tamuz 21, 5762 Israel Time: 20:17 (GMT+3)

Last update - 19:42 01/07/2002

Jobless Palestinians march in Gaza against PA corruption

By Reuters

GAZA - Chanting "we are not beggars", thousands of unemployed Palestinians
took to the streets of Gaza City on Monday to accuse Palestinian Authority
Chairman Yasser Arafat's government of corruption and failing to provide them
with jobs.

"Israel is the cause of all miseries, but the Palestinian Authority has a duty
to protect its citizens from hunger," said march organizer Mohammed Dahman.

Organizers said at least 7,000 people took part in the march, many made
jobless by a Palestinian uprising that erupted in September 2000 and led
Israel to ban entry to tens of thousands of Palestinian laborers.

Arafat is under international pressure to make his government more transparent
and introduce due process to his institutions. Backed by the United States,
Israel says such reform is a prerequisite for the resumption of peace talks.

The protesters denounced government corruption, but were at pains not to
direct criticism at Arafat himself.

"There is no problem with al-Khetiar [the old man], but all faces around him
must be removed," said Ahmad el-Laham of Khan Yunis refugee camp in the south,
as others nodded agreement.

"Some of those who should be serving the public are robbing the public," said
Tawfik al-Mashwaki, who spent five hours travelling through Israeli
checkpoints to attend the rally.

Israel's ensuing crackdowns, closures and curfews amid Palestinian suicide
bombings have further hurt the economy, especially in the teeming and
impoverished Gaza Strip.

Several demonstrators held up empty plates. Others accused officials of
embezzling foreign aid. "Where is the money we see donated by Arab nations on
our TV screens? We get nothing," a man shouted. "It was stolen," others
responded.

Workers demanded Palestinian Authority jobs or stipends.

Palestinian officials deny widespread corruption, instead blaming the conflict
with Israel for the crisis.

"The Palestinian Authority is in deep financial crisis because of the war of
starvation launched against it by Israel and because of an absence in
international financial aid," said Palestinian Labor Minister Ghassan al-
Khatib.

According to unofficial Israeli figures, at least 120,000 Palestinians worked
in Israel before the revolt began, earning up to $30 a day. World Bank data
indicate that 50 percent of Palestinians now live on $2 a day, or less.

There is around 60 percent unemployment in the Gaza Strip. Dahman said at
least 135,000 people lost jobs during the 21 months of violence, 40,000 of
whom used to work in Israel.

"My children are eating what people dump in the garbage," said 55-year-old
Fawzi Abu Lehya.

Drzewko
Od najstarszego
Od najnowszego

Gość: al Haj .................................The End of Arafat IP: *.cm-upc.chello.se 01.07.02, 19:21

Monday, July 01, 2002 Tamuz 21, 5762 Israel Time: 20:17 (GMT+3)

Last update - 19:42 01/07/2002

Jobless Palestinians march in Gaza against PA corruption

By Reuters

GAZA - Chanting "we are not beggars", thousands of unemployed Palestinians
took to the streets of Gaza City on Monday to accuse Palestinian Authority
Chairman Yasser Arafat's government of corruption and failing to provide them
with jobs.

"Israel is the cause of all miseries, but the Palestinian Authority has a duty
to protect its citizens from hunger," said march organizer Mohammed Dahman.

Organizers said at least 7,000 people took part in the march, many made
jobless by a Palestinian uprising that erupted in September 2000 and led
Israel to ban entry to tens of thousands of Palestinian laborers.

Arafat is under international pressure to make his government more transparent
and introduce due process to his institutions. Backed by the United States,
Israel says such reform is a prerequisite for the resumption of peace talks.

The protesters denounced government corruption, but were at pains not to
direct criticism at Arafat himself.

"There is no problem with al-Khetiar [the old man], but all faces around him
must be removed," said Ahmad el-Laham of Khan Yunis refugee camp in the south,
as others nodded agreement.

"Some of those who should be serving the public are robbing the public," said
Tawfik al-Mashwaki, who spent five hours travelling through Israeli
checkpoints to attend the rally.

Israel's ensuing crackdowns, closures and curfews amid Palestinian suicide
bombings have further hurt the economy, especially in the teeming and
impoverished Gaza Strip.

Several demonstrators held up empty plates. Others accused officials of
embezzling foreign aid. "Where is the money we see donated by Arab nations on
our TV screens? We get nothing," a man shouted. "It was stolen," others
responded.

Workers demanded Palestinian Authority jobs or stipends.

Palestinian officials deny widespread corruption, instead blaming the conflict
with Israel for the crisis.

"The Palestinian Authority is in deep financial crisis because of the war of
starvation launched against it by Israel and because of an absence in
international financial aid," said Palestinian Labor Minister Ghassan al-
Khatib.

According to unofficial Israeli figures, at least 120,000 Palestinians worked
in Israel before the revolt began, earning up to $30 a day. World Bank data
indicate that 50 percent of Palestinians now live on $2 a day, or less.

There is around 60 percent unemployment in the Gaza Strip. Dahman said at
least 135,000 people lost jobs during the 21 months of violence, 40,000 of
whom used to work in Israel.

"My children are eating what people dump in the garbage," said 55-year-old
Fawzi Abu Lehya.

Najnowsze z forum Świat

Zaloguj się