(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - A recent decree issued by PA President Mahmoud Abbas effectively turns Palestinian NGOs into government-controlled institutions. The organizations are now required to present to the PA government an "annual action plan and estimated budget." This means that the organizations will be working for the PA. "This [decree] undermines the professionalism, independence and freedom of civic activity, including its monitoring role over the performance of the executive authority and its objective to hold this authority accountable for its violations," several Palestinian civil society organizations said in a joint statement. Abbas is worried that Palestinian civil society organizations would criticize him or his government on the eve of the planned elections and hurt his (and his ruling Fatah faction's) chances of winning. The U.S. is about to pump millions of dollars into Abbas' coffers to help him cut off the emergence of new and young leaders and to help him maintain his authoritarian rule over the Palestinians.
2021-04-14 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive