RAMALLAH, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday declared new cuts in his office, terminating the services of all his advisors, the official news agency WAFA reported.
The step included the suspension of financial entitlements and privileges that the advisors received in their capacity.
Abbas issued another order demanding that ministers of the former government of former Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to pay back financial allocations they had received during the period prior to his decision to raise their salaries and honorary entitlements.
WAFA reported that the payments should be returned in a lump sum and include any house rent payments that were not made based on a real need or actual rental made by cabinet members during the same period.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has been facing a severe financial crisis since Israel's decision to deduct funds from Palestinian tax revenues, on the pretext that the PA pays financial dues to the families of killed Palestinians and prisoners in Israeli jails.
Palestinians have decided to decline receiving deducted amounts transferred by Israel.
Palestinian Finance Ministry's reports show that tax revenues transfers make up nearly half of the PA budget, and therefore, the Israeli move, in addition to the U.S. aid cut, leaves it in a critical financial situation.
