Minister of Information Riyad al-Malki announced that all PNA civil servants and military personnel will receive tomorrow morning for the first time in 15 months a full month salary. He affirmed that the government has guarantees that salaries will be paid on a regular basis at the start of every month for the next six months. During a press conference held at the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting in Ramallah, al-Malki pointed out that all employees who didn’t abide by the government decisions and by the decisions of President Abbas will not get their salaries. He said the government commits to pay full salaries for the next six months. He warned of the dangers of Hamas supporting or breaking into the banks in Gaza Strip, holding Hamas Movement full responsibility for such an approach. He pointed out that the government received information about threats of breaking into the banks by members of the Executive Force in case the salaries are transferred to the banks. In the meantime, al-Malki warned of halting the issuing of Palestinian passports to the citizens in Gaza Strip in case the attacks continue on the General Directorate of Passports by members of the Executive Force; he said the acts threaten with the halt of issuing passports from Gaza Strip within 48 hours if the acts don’t stop.

In the meantime, the General Personnel Office announced once again yesterday that Friday and Saturday of every week are the weekend holiday for all civil servants in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as of July 1, 2007. The announcement came as implementation to the decision taken by the Palestinian Cabinet in Ramallah.

Published at Al Hayat al Jadida NewsPaper on July 3, 2007