Will Arafat clean house?

Corruption is still a common characteristic of developing countries, and the Palestine self-rule area is no exception.

In recent months, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Yasser Arafat's government has been hit by a series of reports about misuse of foreign aid funds. Some $326 million of the PA's $800 million annual budget was squandered through corruption and mismanagement.

As the state's "watchdog" has no legislative authority, the Palestinian legislative council set up a special committee to probe the matter.

Committee members said last month the $362 million figure was exaggerated, and that an accurate number could only be determined after an investigation by the state attorney.

By a 57-1 vote, the Palestine legislative council issued a call for Arafat's self-rule cabinet to resign a few days after a report by the Palestinian parliament special committee was read to lawmakers detailing extensive abuses in the government ministries.

Foreign analysts say that Arafat should replace his ministers with technocrats and experts. Palestine legislators are recommending just such action by the end of September. Palestinian legislators called on Arafat to clean house with the public behind them. No doubt such calls have put Arafat under serious pressure.