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Palestinians Mount Violent Protest Over Lack of Paychecks
Palestinian civil servants stormed the parliament building in the West Bank on Wednesday demanding back pay and chanting "We are hungry!"Fistfights broke out as protesters hurled plastic water bottles at legislators from Hamas, the militant group that controls parliament, forcing the speaker to flee the building. It was the second violent protest this week at parliament, in Ramallah, and underscored growing pressure on the Hamas government on several fronts. Much of the Western aid that had been used to run the Palestinian Authority has been withheld since Hamas took over the government after winning January elections. Many Muslim nations had pledged their support, but international banks, most tied to the American system, have refused to transfer money from other donors. So on Wednesday, the Hamas foreign minister, Mahmoud Zahar, crossed over into Gaza from Egypt carrying what Palestinian officials said was $20 million in cash in his suitcases. He was returning from a long trip to Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, China, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt. Hamas, responsible for many of the deadliest suicide attacks against Israel, has refused to renounce violence or recognize the Israeli state since it won control of parliament in January. Though a substantial sum, the $20 million is a fraction of $120 million the Palestinian Authority needs each month just for the salaries of its 165,000 employees, most of whom have not been paid for four months. Its current budget would require an additional $45 million for all costs other than salaries. A power struggle between Hamas and Fatah, the party it ousted from power, continues to worsen. About two dozen people have been killed in recent weeks in factional fighting, including a Hamas gunman in southern Gaza on Wednesday. The protesters at the parliament, which was also attacked Monday night along with two cabinet buildings, were reported largely to be loyal to Fatah. "We deplore and regret these incidents," Ismail Haniya, the prime minister and a top Hamas leader, said after the death of the gunman, The Associated Press reported. "The government is going to carry out its responsibilities along with the security branches in order to maintain law and order." To defuse the tensions, Mr. Haniya and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority and a member of Fatah, have agreed to a series of talks, which continued on Wednesday. Mr. Abbas, a moderate, has been pressing Hamas to accept even implicit recognition of Israel, a move aimed at freeing up foreign money and restarting peace talks with Israel. Barring that, Mr. Abbas has said he will schedule a referendum next month calling for a Palestinian state within pre-1967 borders, a proposal that polls indicate most Palestinians support. Hamas's leadership strongly opposes the referendum as illegal and an effort to undermine the party's election victory. Posted by: tipper 2006-06-15 |
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