[nasional_list] [ppiindia] Editorial: Corruption in Palestine

From: "Ambon" <sea@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@freelists.org>
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2006 09:23:31 +0100
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Monday, 6, February, 2006 (07, Muharram, 1427)


      Editorial: Corruption in Palestine
      6 February 2006
     
        
      For the last sixty years, the Palestinians have suffered badly enough at 
the hands of others. It is now officially revealed that it was not just others; 
some of their own people have been plundering large quantities of the precious 
money they have been given by outsiders, which was supposed to fund the 
transition toward full statehood.

      The poverty and terror in which the great majority of Palestinians have 
been forced to survive, particularly in Gaza, brought often-generous assistance 
from official and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout the Arab 
world and far beyond. The immediate need was health and education but then came 
jobs and infrastructure. The poor majority of Palestinians had little left to 
them except their lives and their dignity. Many outside countries recognized 
and responded to their plight.

      The revelations yesterday by Palestinian Attorney General Ahmed 
Al-Moghani that upward of $700 million may have been stolen in the last few 
years by corrupt Palestinian officials and politicians does more than stir 
outrage. It produces a feeling of deepest nausea. If any of the 50 cases of 
theft and embezzlement currently being investigated by the Palestinian 
authorities produces clear evidence that these awful crimes have indeed been 
committed, then the perpetrators, whoever they may be, are beneath contempt, 
because they have behaved with the utmost cruelty and selfishness.

      Some sources are alleging that the figure spirited away may be as much as 
$1 billion, fully a fifth of all money given to the Palestinians in the last 
five years. Other observers, including a World Bank official, say that very 
large quantities of money have been wasted through maladministration and 
incompetence. Since 1994, when limited self-government was given to 
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, it has been Yasser Arafat's Fatah 
movement that has run affairs. These crimes took place on Fatah's watch and 
certainly involved some Fatah politicians and officials. Other Fatah people 
were too lazy or too incompetent to spot and stop what was going on. Those few 
in the movement who feared the worst and tried to protest to the leadership 
were slapped down.

      This massive failure of a political party too long in power explains why 
the electorate rejected Fatah by such a stunning margin and gave their support 
to Hamas. A new Hamas government may decide to drive home the political 
advantage of exposing the cupidity and bungling of Fatah by pushing the 
prosecutions. This is not however the best reason for laying bare the 
corruption and payola, however far it extends. 

      Far more important is the attitude of the international community which 
has seen its generous gifts to the many poor of Palestine end up in the pockets 
of a relatively few officials. Donor confidence is no doubt already shaken by 
the revelations. The best way to restore it is by making a full and fair 
investigation into what happened, blaming the blunderers and punishing the 
guilty. Anything less will play into the hands of their enemies. 
     


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[nasional_list] [ppiindia] Editorial: Corruption in Palestine

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