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Palestinian Rule Comes with Bills

[AP/Baltimore Sun] Palestinians are learning that independence has a price: They have to start paying their utility bills. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is cracking down as part of his effort to bring law and order to the West Bank and to reassure donor countries that they are not subsidizing deadbeats with their billions of dollars in aid. West Bank residents who haven't paid a bill in seven years or more are being told that until they settle up they can't do simple things like renew a driver's license. The result has been a storm of protest. The Palestinian Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction against the practice. But Fayyad, a U.S.-educated economist, is saying it is time that the Palestinians learned a little discipline. "This is an important step on the way to strengthening our standing as a government and will strengthen our self-reliance," he said. "It's also an important element of building a state." "It doesn't make sense to keep speaking about reform while a quarter of the budget each year goes to paying electricity and water bills," he said. "Subsidizing those who don't deserve it is a waste of the public's money."
2008-04-25 01:00:00
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