Ramallah (Ma'an) – Thousands of Palestinian families are worried that their Palestinian Authority employee salaries will be cut. No one knows if they will get paid at the end of each month. That ‘no one’ includes 150,000 PA employees. Add to that number their families and you have a lot of concerned citizens.
The PA needs at least 110 million USD, of which most comes from the taxes Israel owes, but now Israel is refusing to pay up.
PA employee, Abu Zaid, says that if the salary is not paid for two months it will be a disaster. ‘I will not food to feed my children. I have already taken a bank loan. This will really be disastrous. I am afraid that the people will revolt, will fight in the streets, if this goes on for two or three months. When people are hungry, no one can stop them.’
Another PA employee, Basher Montaser, said that the protests will not be against Hamas. ‘All protests will be against the PA and Israel. If I see my children hungry I will do anything to feed them. We will turn the table on the heads of the entire world.’
PA employee Nasser Sharabi said that it is not Hamas who is responsible for the financial situation. ‘It is the PA, Fateh, and everyone. There is a feeling of horror among Palestinians for their future.’
Teacher Mohammad Abu Tayeh, said, ‘I am not feeling that much worry. I think we will be paid our salaries, even if they are delayed.’
Another PA employee, Itimad Nasrallah, was not worried either. ‘Hamas will do everything it can in order to avoid harming the employees.’