Palestinians Mount Violent Protest Over Lack of Paychecks(financial squeeze working)

NYT ^ | 06/15/06 | IAN FISHER

[TigerLikesRooster]

Palestinians Mount Violent Protest Over Lack of Paychecks

By IAN FISHER

JERUSALEM, June 14 — 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.

[TigerLikesRooster]

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.

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.

Dubya got them where they hurt most. This kind of financial sanction also dealt a major blow to N. Korea.

[Lurker]

hurled plastic water bottles at legislators from Hamas

He's lucky that's all the palifascists hurled at him.

I'd also like to know what countries I could travel to that would let me waltz out with 20 mill in cash in my suitcases.

L

[Izzy Dunne]

This kind of financial sanction also dealt a major blow to N. Korea.

Yeah, but NK didn't have the kind of constituency among the MSM that the PA has.

[Diogenesis]

Suha, the Terrorist: "We have plenty of (your) money. Billions and billions.
It's just that (others') Palestinian children blow up so quickly."

[razorback-bert]

$120 million the Palestinian Authority needs each month just for the salaries of its 165,000 employees

$727.27 a month salary.

[kjo]

Good point. Have you listened to National Palestinian Radio lately? 24/7, around the clock propaganda for the Palestinian "cause". And the taxpayer picks up the tab.

[samtheman]

that picture will live in infamy

the traitor french-kissing the terrorist

[kittymyrib]

It's bad to be dependent on one's enemies for fuel. It's much worse to be dependent on one's enemies for food. Shouting anti-US slogans in the streets while firing guns overhead makes for good photo ops, but it doesn't put food on the table.

[Malleus Dei]

Maybe they'll figure out eventually that until they grow up, accept reality, and act like peaceful adults we aren't going to give them a dime.

And we shouldn't.

[SkyPilot]

$120 million the Palestinian Authority needs each month just for the salaries of its 165,000 employees

Our Coast Guard is less than 40,000 people, and look at the momumental achievements it performs every day.

What in the Sam Hill are these 165,000 employees doing?

I could find plenty of work for them to do, but they would actually have to work and improve themselves.

They can start by cleaning up their own streets.

[yankeedame]

Maybe they'll figure out eventually that until they grow up, accept reality, and act like peaceful adults we aren't going to give them a dime

Ah,yes, but then the PA will run around screaming, yelling, raising all kinds of h%$# claming they were driven to it. You know:

"Our children are hungry!"
"Our babies need clean water!"

The U.S. will be blamed

"...Many Muslim nations had pledged their support, but international banks, most tied to the American system, have refused to transfer money from other donors..."

MSM will eat it up. The Left will run with it. And the State Department will shovel $$$ at the PA hoping to just shut them all up.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #10

I suspect that it is a giant welfare program. Work in name only.

[Dosa26]

As my union father used to tell his co-workers when they griped, "You don't have to take that sh-t! Quit! Don't bother calling your commitie-man! He's not listening to you! Just march into the foremans office and quit!"

[hsalaw]

It was the second violent protest this week at parliament, in Ramallah, and underscored growing pressure on the Hamas government on several fronts.

I need more popcorn.

[XR7]

Unbelievable! If we did not send them our hard-earned US taxpayer dollars, there would be no "Palestinian state." No intifada. Sufa Arafat would not be living large in Paris on $15,000 a day, courtesy of US taxpayers. Suckers, we are.

[avacado]

Welcome to Capitalism you terrorists! First, buy some clay then make ash trays out of them, then sell them.

Problem over.