(Palestine Chronicle-USA) Ramzy Baroud - Thanks to the Palestinian Authority, corruption and nepotism are now ingrained in the occupied territories. The PA only safeguards its own interests, the interests of its VIP cardholders and business contractors. The feeling of triumph among many Palestinians that Israel has finally accepted the fact that the ever-defiant Gaza Strip cannot be subdued came to an abrupt end as Gaza has fallen into chaos and anarchy. Palestinians can no longer afford deferring all of their problems to a post-occupation reality that requires many years to be attained. For years, Arafat failed to expand the authority to fairly represent all segments of the population. As a result, the great majority of Palestinians became permanently marginalized. While the refugee camps of Gaza remained intact, skyscrapers were erected to cater to the needs of the corrupt elites who were so quick to abandon the battlefield. The writer is a Palestinian-American journalist.
2004-07-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive