RAMALLAH – Palestinian teachers went on strike in the West Bank Thursday in protest against unpaid salaries. Mohammed Sowwan, Secretary General of Teachers' Union, said that 38,134 teachers walked out of their classes to protest the unpaid September salary and the policies of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's government. He added that the Ministry of Education failed to negotiate the teachers' demands. Sowwan said that the teachers will hold a general strike on next Tuesday. He added that striking is “a right by the Basic Law and not a privilege granted by Fayyad's government.” The West Bank-based Palestinian government announced it would not be able to pay full salaries for September because donor countries have not delivered promised aid. The Palestinian Finance Ministry said it needs $150 million monthly to pay the salaries of its 145,000 civil and military employees. Palestinian Finance Minister Nabil Qassis said early this month that the Palestinian Authority faces a $400 million shortfall this year and has already been hit by protests over the spiraling cost of living and spending cuts by Fayyad's government. Qassis said that there were $300 million of pledges unpaid. The Congress has blocked nearly $200 million in aid for the PA after President Mahmoud Abbas asked the UN Security Council in September 2011 to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza with West Jerusalem as its capital. The US aid was destined for projects related to food aid, health care, and state building efforts. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have estimated a $400 million cash shortage which could get worse by the end of the year. The World Bank has predicted the PA may be forced to extend arrears already owed in pensions and cut basic spending such as wages “which could have severe social impacts.” Growing protests across the West Bank against price hikes prompted Fayyad's government and leaders of Palestinian factions to meet and discuss ways of easing the economic hardships. Fayyad announced a package of subsidies and tax cuts. The Palestinian premier said he will cancel a series of price hikes in fuel and cooking gas.
