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A Palestinian Authority Steeped in Paralysis and Corruption

(Electronic Intifada) Hasan Abu Nimah - France announced that it is investigating money transfers totaling 9 million euros ($11.5 million) from Swiss banks to private accounts owned by Suha Arafat, the wife of the Palestinian leader. Why is the Palestinian First Lady living in Paris in the first place instead of remaining with her people and sharing their plight? She was happy enough to be in the territories when Hilary Clinton and other dignitaries would come to pay their respects. And why should such an enormous sum be allocated to one small Palestinian family - Mrs. Arafat and her daughter - if not to sustain a lavish Parisian lifestyle? The same amount of money could support almost 6,000 Palestinian families for an entire year. Can anyone point to any valuable services Suha Arafat has performed on behalf of her people? Six years ago, a Palestinian parliamentary panel conducted an investigation of PA corruption and called for the dismissal of Arafat's entire cabinet. The worst mismanagement cited was in the Civil Affairs Ministry, headed by Jamil Tarifi, and the Planning Ministry, headed by Nabil Shaath. Six years later, Tarifi and Shaath are still in the cabinet. The writer is a former Permanent Representative of Jordan at the UN and former ambassador.
2004-02-20 00:00:00
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