PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER ISMAIL HANIYEH SAID ON SUNDAY HE EXPECTED THE FUNDING CRISIS THAT HAS CRIPPLED HIS ADMINISTRATION AND PREVENTED EMPLOYEES' SALARIES BEING PAID FOR MORE THAN A MONTH TO BE OVER "VERY, VERY SOON", REUTERS REPORTED. HANIYEH, A LEADER OF HAMAS GROUP , WHICH HEADS THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT, GAVE NO DETAILS ON HOW THE CRUNCH WOULD BE RESOLVED, BUT IT IS EXPECTED TO INVOLVE PAYMENTS BEING MADE DIRECTLY TO PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY EMPLOYEES FROM ABROAD. THE HAMAS-LED GOVERNMENT CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ITS 165,000 EMPLOYEES. "I CAN SAY THAT VERY, VERY SOON WE WILL HAVE BEGUN ENDING THE CRISIS OF THE SALARIES," HANIYEH TOLD REPORTERS. "THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN EXERTING MAXIMUM EFFORT IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS TO AFFORD THE NEEDS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THE SALARIES OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES."
