Palestinian Authority president requests help from allies after officials say PA can't pay salaries due to int'l aid drying up.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEHAbbas 311(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday called for a meeting of the Arab League to discuss the severe financial crisis in the PA.The appeal was made during a phone conversation between Abbas and Arab League Secretary- General Nabil Arabi.RELATED:PA union chair accuses Fayyad of squandering public fundsWorld Bank: W. Bank, Gaza growth not likely sustainableBecause of the crisis, the PA this month paid only half salaries to its 150,000 civil servants.The PA said the crisis was the result of the failure of Western donors and Arab countries to fulfill their financial commitments to the Palestinians.A PA official confirmed on Monday that Saudi Arabia has agreed. to transfer $30 million to the PA to cover the second half of the salaries.The official expressed relief over the Saudi move and urged the rest of the Arab countries to follow suit. He warned that the financial crisis was leading to a “state of frustration and despair” among many Palestinian families, especially as it comes on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, which is followed by the Eid al-Fitr feast.
