Middle East - AP
Palestinian Students Demand Jobs in Gaza
Date: Sat, Aug 14, 2004
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - More than 100 unemployed university graduates stormed a Palestinian Authority (news - web sites) building in a Gaza Strip (news - web sites) refugee camp Saturday, calling on the Palestinian leadership to provide them with jobs.
The incident, which ended peacefully after about two hours, was the latest sign of discontent with the beleaguered Palestinian Authority. The graduates — all of them unarmed — said the authority had promised them employment and failed to live up to its obligation.
"We have asked all those in charge and all the members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to find a solution for our situation by finding us jobs, but no one is listening to us," said Shadi Shaath, a leader of the protesters.
He said the protesters left the building because they weren't prepared for a lengthy standoff, but he promised further action in the coming days if Palestinian officials don't respond.
A series of kidnappings and violent demonstrations have plagued the Gaza Strip and West Bank in recent weeks.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites)'s plan to pull out of all Gaza and four West Bank settlements next year has caused a power struggle as rival Palestinian factions maneuver for leadership positions ahead of the proposed withdrawal.
Palestinians have shown growing discontent with the Palestinian Authority, which is headed by Yasser Arafat (news - web sites), accusing it of widespread corruption and ineffectiveness.
Last Thursday, dozens of homeless Palestinians, led by gunmen, stormed the governor's office in Gaza's battered Rafah refugee camp, evicting officials and charging that Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority is not helping them. The standoff ended four hours later after officials pledged to help the people find housing.
In the past few weeks, the turmoil has trickled from Gaza to the West Bank, where a growing number of Palestinians have begun to voice criticism of Arafat's corruption-plagued regime and demand reforms.
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