Wednesday 25 August 2010

Energy Authority points finger at Fayyad for power crisis

[ 24/08/2010 - 01:05 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- The Palestinian Energy Authority says Salam Fayyad, premier of the illegal government in Ramallah, is fully responsible for the recent power failures in the Gaza Strip, calling for putting him on trial.

The authority denied in a statement Monday rumors of agreements over running the Strip's power plant between the Palestinian government led by Ismail Haneyya and Abbas’s authority in the West Bank.

“We confirm that the electricity crisis still exists in light of the sharp shortage of fuel supply, which is only enough to run a single unit,” said Energy Authority president Kanaan Obeid in a press statement.

Obeid stressed that Fayyad has made no response to intercessions initiated by a network of civil organizations, independent personalities, and human rights centers.

“The electric distribution company pays its taxes to the so-called ministry of finance in Ramallah,” he said, adding, “We emphasize that Salam Fayyad disclaimed the agreement for payroll deductions in exchange for supplying enough fuel for two units.”

He explained that the decision to reduce fuel is purely political, and aims to put pressure on the people and distract them from direct talks between the PA and Israel.

“170 shekels will be deducted from the salaries of Palestinian government employees for the benefit of the electric distribution company starting this September,” Obeid said, qualifying that employees receiving a wage less than 1,500 shekels a month will not be affected by the pay cut.

He pointed out that the Palestinian finance ministry has begun taking measures for that, adding: “If 170 shekels are deducted from all of the employees, it would raise the financial ceiling for funds allocated for purchasing fuel, and an increase in the amount of fuel for the station, which would contribute in ending the electricity crisis which the Strip has lived in for some time.”

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