In a development that might just surprise no-one, two former PA ministers have been arrested on corruption charges.
Well, I err. The fact some PA ministers acted corruptly will surprise no-one, but the fact they were arrested probably surprises everyone.
And what exactly did they do? Tried to pass of Zionist Dates of DeathTM as their own:
Palestinian sources confirmed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed today, Wednesday, that the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Court had arrested two former Palestinian ministers pending an investigation into the case of “marketing dates from Israeli settlements” and changing the origin of those products to Palestinian.
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According to the same sources, the two arrested ministers are pending investigation into the case, one of whom is a current member of the board of directors in the Palestine Investment Fund of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and was arrested yesterday, Tuesday, while the other minister owns palm farms in Jericho, east of the West Bank, and held the position of minister Agriculture in previous governments, and this is not the first time that he has been charged with corruption, as he was previously accused of corruption cases in 2011.
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In a letter to Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, the “Aman” coalition confirmed, through the information available to it, that the Palestinian companies suspected of wrapping dates produced in the lands seized by the occupation, violate the decision of Law No. 4 of 2010 regarding banning and combating settlement products, It did this through public officials who were given financial and moral benefits that represent suspicions of bribery in accordance with the applicable Palestinian anti-corruption law, which requires the prosecution of these companies and their officials, as partners in corruption crimes and not only as perpetrators of economic crimes, which will contribute to the intensification of the prosecution and criminalization of the real owners, those in charge of these companies, for practicing these crimes, whose impact is not limited to the economic aspect only, but also to the political, national and administrative aspect.
Aman indicated in his letter that the delay in prosecuting these serious crimes will create a feeling among Palestinian citizens in general, farmers and the national private sector in particular, that the implementation of the decision by Law No. 4 of 2010 regarding banning and combating settlement products is not being imposed, and that the perpetrators of these crimes are evading punishment.
I wonder if these were dates were among those being promoted by BDS groups. How sweet that would be.
Hat tip: Michal
