The Palestinian private sector, in a Thursday press statement, rejected and described as “insulting” the so called “carrot and stick” policy unveiled by current Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
The statement, issued by the all-inclusive coordinating council of all the business associations, chambers of commerce, and industrial & trade organizations representing the mass of business leaders in Palestine, said, according to WAFA: “We view the policy proposed to directly contact Palestinian figures, businessmen and academics and bypass the Palestinian National Authority and its legitimate leadership under elected President Mahmoud Abbas as amateurish, and completely humiliating, under estimating our intellect; and reminds us of old age ideas that are null and void.
“We as leaders of business and respected figures in our community, representing the private sector in the state of Palestine regard with honor and pride the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority with the related government agencies as our national government providing us with rule of law, security and enabling environment.”
The Coordinating Council of the private sector includes eleven institutions: Palestinian trade center “Pal-Trade”, the Palestinian Federation of Business Associations, the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Agriculture, the Palestinian Federation of Industries, the Association of Banks, the Union of Insurance Agencies, the Information Technology Association “PITA”, the Association of Arab Hotels, the Union of Contractors, the Palestinian Shippers’ Council and the Forum of Businesswomen.
Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
His party was recently the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, more recently, Lieberman’s life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
(Photo: Al Ray archive image.)
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