Deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Hassan Harisha, slammed Palestinian Authority
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Thursday, saying the leader was incapable of overcoming corruption in the Authority because his advisors "have failed him."
Harisha told the London-based Arabic newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi Abbas would be unable to beat corruption with the "same old methods, and with advisors that were "just as corrupt" when they served under the late Yasser Arafat.
Harisha added the Authority lacked a clear vision for reform and the fight against corruption, a lack that stems from an overall lack of political vision.
Growing gap
At the same time, said Harisha, there is a massive gap between the Palestinian street and leadership, due to growing poverty and lawlessness.
He also suggested the recent wave of officials from the Authority was little more than window dressing meant to divert attention from an overall failure by Abbas to deal with corruption.
Palestinian General Intelligence chief Tawfik Tirawi said Wednesday his agency had proven involvement of several senior Authority officials in corruption and bribert, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Tirawi said the individuals were senior officials in several Palestinian Authority ministries. On Monday several were detained for questioning by Tirawi's officers.
During the investigations, several officials admitted transferring public money to private bank accounts. Two others fled.
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