The Associated Press reports that billionaire Palestinian businessman Munib al-Masri, 73, has launched a new political movement called the “Palestine Forum”. The Forum, which held meetings in Ramallah and Gaza on Thursday linked by video conference, reflects the growing disillusionment with Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party.
Hundreds of Palestinian business people and professionals, fed up with the endemic corruption and wastefulness in Fatah, have pledged support for the new movement.
Supporters said that the U.S.-educated al-Masri would convert the new group into a political party and may field candidates in the next Palestinian election.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmad Subuh has announced that EU donations to the PA this year have now surpassed $1 billion, and total $1,080 million thus far. Last year the EU gave $980 million and in 2005, $880 million. (Details here.)
At the same time, unreported by virtually the entire world media, Palestinian Kassam rockets continue to be fired daily from Gaza at homes in Israel. Yesterday, for example, three rockets disrupted the tranquil Jewish Sabbath atmosphere in the working class town of Sderot, setting five cars on fire and resulting in one woman being treated by paramedics.