How Palestine's parliament is squandering millions of dollars
There are no prospects that a new speaker could be elected or the PLC itself could be activated, as millions of dollars are disbursed to cover the spending of members of parliament.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Jan. 25 marked the 10th anniversary of the Palestinian Legislative Council's last election. The PLC consists of 132 elected members of parliament (84 parliamentarians in the West Bank and 48 in Gaza) who were convened in 27 legal sessions from the date they were elected in 2006 until June 14, 2007, when parliament sessions were disrupted following clashes between Fatah and Hamas, and the latter’s control over the Gaza Strip. Between 2006 and the present, they have failed to pass any legislation, except for laws pertaining to the PLC's costs and expenses.
This has prompted citizens to raise questions on parliamentary expenditures such as the salaries of parliamentarians and parliament's staff members and the ongoing privileges despite the parliament's inactivity.
The 2015 parliamentary budget amounted to 58.5 million shekels ($15 million); the 2016 parliamentary budget has not been announced yet.
Under Law No. 10 (2004) and Law No. 11 (2004), each member of parliament is paid a monthly salary of $3,000 and is eligible for customs' exemption for one vehicle, which is provided, licensed and maintained by the PLC. Members of parliament and their spouses are given permanent diplomatic passports and a sum of $15,000 that is paid upon their election to improve living conditions. The parliamentarians are also paid 8,000 shekels ($2,100) on a monthly basis to cover office expenses such as rent, water and electricity bills as well as employees’ salaries; they are also provided a pension that equals 12.5% of their salary for each year of PLC membership.
