RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas revealed on Saturday that the PA is encountering a serious financial crisis and might not be able to pay civil servant salaries next month.
Abbas had warned of the measures in a meeting with leaders of Palestinian popular organizations Friday night.
“We might pay a half salary depending on the money our treasury receives.”
Abbas warned against any negative reactions such as strikes or protests, especially by trade unions, stating that such protests would only harm what the PA has accomplished.
“We will immediately sue anyone who attempts to bring down what we have built. Some people naively and unconsciously say the crisis has political dimensions. This is unacceptable.”
The Palestinian president pointed out that a number of leaders from Arab countries had been contacted, but despite positive overtures, no money had been received.
“We faced crises in 2000, and after the unity government with Hamas, but we managed to overcome that. We work day and night to secure salaries, and I know what it means when a family receives a half salary."
"This is worrying me, and we must face this together. Everybody should tighten their belts without exception.”
The decision by the US congress to stop aid to the PA was meant to exert pressure on the Palestinians, Abbas also added.
“Thus, we have two choices, either to steadfast, or to collapse. We will steadfast and face all these pressures.”
“Unfortunately, the US does not want us to go to the UN for statehood, and at the same time, they do not put pressure to set real standards for negotiations based on the two-state solution and on the 1967 borders.”
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