International auditing committee to end Qatari-Palestinian crisis

The Palestinian government and the Qatari government have reached an agreement to settle the crisis of the International Bank of Palestine, which has in the past days caused friction between the two sides.

The agreements states that an international auditing company will study all files and define responsibilities in the issue against releasing the chairman of the Bank's board, Issam Abu Issa as well as his brother Issa. Issam will be under the responsibility of the Qatari government.

Palestinian Minister of International Cooperation Nabil Shaath said that he had agreed with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem al-Khaleifa to appoint an international auditing company, but he refrained from mentioning the name of the company. Shaath added that the representatives of the company will arrive in Gaza as soon as possible.

The crisis started when the Palestinian government accused Issam Abu Issa, a Palestinian with Qatari citizenship who is the bank's chairman, of offering loans to private companies without guarantees.

Abu Issa resorted to the Qatari embassy in Gaza out of fear for his life, according to his statements, as the Palestinian government besieged the embassy to prevent Abu Issa's escape.