Palestinian budget burdened by hefty pensions for ministers

The latest unity government is the 17th Palestinian government in two decades, and an enormous number of former ministers are enjoying excessive benefits the government cannot afford.
Palestinian Minister of Housing and Public Works Mufeed Al-Hassayna (R) shakes hands with former Hamas government Minister of Housing Youssef Graze during office handover ceremony in Gaza City June 4, 2014. Islamist Hamas handed control of two government ministries in Gaza to members of the new Palestinian unity government on Wednesday, a further sign of reconciliation between the rival factions after the collapse of peace talks with Israel. In Gaza, new cabinet ministers Saleem Al-Saqqa, a Gaza lawyer, and
Palestinian Housing and Public Works Minister Mufeed Al-Hassayna (R) shakes hands with former Hamas government Housing Minister Youssef Graze during office handover ceremony in Gaza City, June 4, 2014 - REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
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Mohammed Othman
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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The latest unity government marks the 17th government since the Palestinian Authority was formed in 1994, in addition to those formed by Hamas in Gaza following the Palestinian division in 2007. 

Over the last 20 years, these 17 governments have employed 165 ministers, including the retired and others still in office, according to the Palestinian Council of Ministers’ website. There are at least 10 more ministers from the former Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.

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