Ramallah, West Bank
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is blocking a crucial reform in Palestinian finances, his Cabinet ministers said this week. Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei wants to pay police officers directly, through an auditable payroll system. Under the current system, security chiefs are given wads of cash, which they distribute as they see fit. The system is rife with corruption, as there is no way to track where the money goes. Arafat says he will not allow the 30,000 security officers under his control to be paid directly. Similar disputes with Arafat prompted Qurei’s predecessor, Mahmoud Abbas, to quit last fall.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
Crossword: October 26, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
