PA officials outraged by Swedish corruption accusation

Ramallah (QNN)- A Swedish radio station quoted its country’s foreign minister, Ann Linde, as saying that “the corruption that pervades Palestine is an obstacle to providing economic support.” The statement outraged officials of the Palestinian Authority, who accused Hamas of spreading such news.

PA Minister of Social Development Ahmed Majdalani denied that Linde made such a statement.

“What this radio station broadcast is not true and I am sure of that. Mrs. Ann Linde is a friend of ours and we have known her for many years, and this statement cannot have been issued by her,” he told The Media Line.

“This is not true. We never heard from her on this subject in the meetings that took place on Tuesday, and those promoted by Hamas’ websites,” he added.

Majdalani, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), added that “I reviewed all the Swedish media with a number of our friends in the Swedish Parliament, and they categorically denied these statements. Her meeting yesterday with President Mahmoud Abbas, and what she confirmed during her meeting, was absolutely clear.”

The reports come amid accusations of corruption inside the PA. Abbas has been accused of rewarding those close to him and their relatives. The PA also faces accusations of torture and extrajudicial executions, the latest case of which was the murder of the PA critic Nizar Banat by PA forces.