Hamas rejected the budget approved by the Palestinian National Accord government, on Tuesday, considering that approving it in this manner is a “political and financial corruption”.
Ahmad Bahar, deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and leader in Hamas, said that, “approving 2018 budget is considered a financial and political corruption as well as a violation of the basic constitutional regulations.”
Bahar stressed that PLC is the sole and exclusive party authorized to approve the government's budget.
During a news conference in Gaza, Bahar stated that Hamdallah's government continues to violate the regulations and that Fatah and its head Mahmoud Abbas are still possessing the power alone.
“Wednesday, Hamdallah announced approving 2018 budget so that it would be sent to the president to ratify it, without being showed to the PLC, which is the sole and exclusive party authorized to approve and supervise the budget,” Bahar added.
“This illegal and immoral attitude doesn’t serve the reconciliation, but deepens the current division and requires accountability even judiciary prosecution,” continued Bahar.
He criticized the Palestinian authority for its belief that empowerment in Gaza means controlling weapons, and accused it of depriving Gaza Strip from its approximate 40 percent share in the budget.
Practically, the PLC hasn’t been convening since years. In fact, Hamas holds sessions in Gaza but neither the authority nor the other parliamentary blocs are aware of them.
The Palestinian government approved two budget drafts for 2018, the first for $5 billion and the second is for $800 million but is bound to the reconciliation. According to the government, the budget was prepared flexibly with taking into consideration that the condition in Gaza would remain the same due to Hamas continuous rejection of government empowerment.
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