Mohammed Mar'i Saudi Gazette RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Finance Ministry Sunday announced that it could not pay full September salaries to its 145,000 civil and military employees. The ministry said in a statement that it will pay part of the September salary before the Eid Al-Adha holiday, which is expected to begin on October 26, because of “the failure of donors, including our Arab brothers, to fulfill their financial aid." It added that the tax revenues that Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) “does not cover the salaries bill." Israel transfers some 330 million Israeli shekels ($86 million) it collects monthly on behalf of the PA on goods imported by Palestinians and destined to the Palestinian territories. The Palestinian Finance Ministry said it needs $150 million monthly to pay the salaries of its employees. On Thursday, the 38,134 Palestinian teachers went on strike in the West Bank in protest against unpaid salaries. The Federation of Union of Palestinian Universities' Professors and Employees (PUUTE) also said it will hold general strike in all Palestinian universities to demand higher payment and improvement in their service conditions.It added that the “Council of Higher Education and universities' administrations have no real intention to negotiate our demands." The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have estimated a $400 million cash shortage which could get worse by the end of the year. The World Bank has predicted the PA may be forced to extend arrears already owed in pensions and cut basic spending such as wages “which could have severe social impacts."
