Police block Gaza road in pay protest
aljazeera.net: Masked Palestinian police sealed off a main road in the central Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis on Saturday and stormed a government building in anger over not receiving salaries from the Hamas-led government.
The gunmen surrounded the building, where town councilors have their offices, taking positions on the roof and balconies and firing in the air, The Associated Press reported.
Salaries for the government's 140,000 employees are two weeks overdue.
Western nations have cut off aid to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority, demanding Hamas renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to exist. Israel also cut off the monthly transfer of about $50 million in taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.
The Palestinian finance minister on Saturday asked government workers to be patient.
"They know that the treasury is empty," Omar Abdul Razak told Aljazeera. "We urge all Palestinians to stand hand in hand with the government until the crisis is resolved." Read more
The gunmen surrounded the building, where town councilors have their offices, taking positions on the roof and balconies and firing in the air, The Associated Press reported.
Salaries for the government's 140,000 employees are two weeks overdue.
Western nations have cut off aid to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority, demanding Hamas renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to exist. Israel also cut off the monthly transfer of about $50 million in taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.
The Palestinian finance minister on Saturday asked government workers to be patient.
"They know that the treasury is empty," Omar Abdul Razak told Aljazeera. "We urge all Palestinians to stand hand in hand with the government until the crisis is resolved." Read more
posted by exoplanet at 11:23 AM
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