As its financial crisis gets worse, the PNA cannot meet its payroll with consequences for a third of the population. Who is charge f security apparatus pits Hamas against Mahmoud Abbas.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Israel and Hamas will talk, albeit only for humanitarian reasons given the deep financial crisis facing the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). As the main employer in Gaza and the West Bank, the PNA is not able to pay salaries to its 140,000 public servants with dire consequences for at least a third of a population, 44 per cent of whom are already living the poverty line (set at US$ 2 per day). Both sides separately confirmed they would hold talks on the matter.

Meanwhile, relations between PNA President Mahmoud Abbas and the new Hamas-led Palestinian government are becoming tenser after the former appointed three Fatah leaders to head the PNA's main security agencies. Prime Minister Ismail Haniya countered announcing that the government will take over security services.

Officials in Israel announced that the Israeli government will address next week the issue of dealing with a Hamas-led PNA but only in order to prevent a humanitarian crisis.  

The decision by Israel, the US and Canada to suspend financial aid to the PNA has driven the Hamas government to seek help in the Arab world and express its solidarity vis-à-vis the population.

In a statement issued by his office, Prime Minister Haniya said that the "government and me in particular as prime minister will not receive salaries before the government employees receive theirs".

He also authorised his cabinet ministers to have "contacts" with Israel in order to ease Palestinian daily life.

Palestinian Finance Minister Omar Abdel Razek said he is waiting for US$ 80 million from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates but added that the PNA was not sure when it could pay March salaries.

• palestine
• israel
• jerusalem
• gaza
• west
• bank
• hamas
• government
• ismail
• haniya