Nablus municipality head resigned

Chairman of Nablus municipality Ghassan al-Shakaa announced his resignation from his post yesterday because of the chaos prevailing the city since a while.

Al-Shakaa said "I no longer feel I can give anything to the city of Nablus. Our society is destroyed and the Israeli occupation is not the only reasons for this destruction."

In the course of expressing his regret for the "security, social and economic" deterioration" in the city, al-Shakaa stressed that he does not want to be a " partner nor a witness " who is helpless before this situation.

Al-Shakaa submitted his resignation to the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and to the local rule minister Jamal Shweiki. In statements to the Palestinian al-Quds daily, he said "my decision is final." The resignation is valid as from the first of May, as he had stated. Persons close to al-Shakaa said he could no longer bear to be accused by certain people as being partially responsible for the state of losing security prevailing in the city.

However, certain armed activities made use of the ailing security forces since the beginning of the Palestinian Intifada in September 2000 and perpetuated fear in Nablus which is inhabited by 200,000. These acts of violence resulted in killing more than 30 persons including the brother of the municipality chairman who was assassinated by gunmen on November 25, 2003.

Ghassan al-Shakaa who comes from one of the major families in Nablus is also member in the PLO executive committee.