Page 10 - aruba-today-20190508

A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 8 May 2019
Qatar to send money for West Bank, Gaza after Israel truce

By JON GAMBRELL restrictions on the move-
Associated Press ment of people and goods
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- through its two main cross-
ates (AP) — Qatar on Tues- ings with the territory next
day said it is sending $480 week, following the coun-
million to Palestinians in the try's observation of Memori-
West Bank and the Gaza al Day and Independence
Strip after a cease-fire deal Day. The energy-rich, small
ended the deadliest fight- nation of Qatar has be-
ing between Israel and come a major donor to the
Palestinian militants since a Palestinians.
2014 war. The Palestinians have been
Qatar's Foreign Ministry divided between two rival
said $300 million would governments since 2007,
support health and edu- when Hamas drove forces
cation programs of the from the internationally
Palestinian Authority, while recognized Palestinian Au-
$180 million would go to- thority out of Gaza. Hamas
ward "urgent humanitar- has ruled Gaza since then,
ian relief" in U.N. programs with the Palestinian Author-
and toward electricity. The ity administering autono-
Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip suf- mous zones in the Israeli-
fers from chronic electricity occupied West Bank.
shortages. In this Jan. 15, 2017 file photo, a Palestinian family warm up outside their makeshift house during This marks the first time in
The recent two-day out- a power cut in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. recent years that Qatar
break of violence killed 25 Associated Press has funded the Palestinian
people in Gaza, both mili- Authority directly. In recent
tants and civilians, and four fire deal. The deal is be- in a territory where unem- supply during Sunday's years, its money has only
civilians in Israel. lieved to include a num- ployment has skyrocketed surge of violence, accord- gone to Gaza, where it
Hamas spokesman Hazem ber of economic aid and to over 50%. ing to COGAT, the Israeli opened a hospital just last
Qassem said Egyptian me- development programs in Israel approved the re- defense body responsible month. The United States
diators, along with officials Gaza, including providing sumption of fuel shipments for Palestinian civilian af- and the European Union
from Qatar and the U.N., additional electricity and into the Gaza Strip on Tues- fairs. It confirmed Israel classify Hamas as a terrorist
helped broker the cease- creating temporary jobs day after cutting off the would indefinitely ease group.q

Erdogan defends Istanbul vote redo, critics see power grab

By SUZAN FRASER The move is raising ques-
Associated Press tions about whether Erdo-
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — gan, who has consolidated
Turkish President Recep power throughout his 16
Tayyip Erdogan insisted years in power and is in-
Tuesday that rerunning the creasingly accused of au-
Istanbul mayoral vote won thoritarianism, would ever
by the opposition will only accept any electoral de-
strengthen democracy, feat or relinquish power.
while critics called the deci- The redo of the vote also
sion an "outrageous" move threatens to further de-sta-
to eliminate dissent against bilize the Turkish economy,
his government. which has entered a reces-
Ruling in favor of Erdogan's sion.
governing party, Turkey's The Turkish lira crashed
top electoral body on Mon- spectacularly last summer
day annulled the results of over investor concerns
the March 31 vote in Istan- about Erdogan's policies,
bul, which opposition can- shaking the economy. It
didate Ekrem Imamoglu has been sliding again in
narrowly won, and sched- recent weeks and on Tues-
uled a re-run for June 23. day it hit its lowest level
The loss of Istanbul — and Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition, Republican People's Party's (CHP) mayoral candidate in Istan- since October, due to the
the capital of Ankara — bul, gestures during a rally in Istanbul, late Monday, May 6, 2019. prolonged political uncer-
in Turkey's local elections Associated Press tainty.
were sharp blows to Erdo- "This outrageous decision
gan and his conservative, city of 15 million people has increased concerns and stemming of the flow highlights how Erdogan's
Islamic-based Justice and that is Turkey's cultural and over democracy and the of refugees to Europe. Turkey is drifting toward a
Development Party, or AKP. commercial hub and of rule of law in Turkey, a "The will of the people has dictatorship," Guy Verhof-
AKP had challenged the exerting heavy pressure NATO member that that is been trampled on," said stadt, a European Parlia-
results of the vote, claiming on the country's electoral still formally a candidate Meral Aksener, leader of a ment lawmaker and the
it was marred by irregulari- body to cancel the out- to join the European Union nationalist party in Turkey leader of the Alliance of
ties. Critics accuse the AKP come. and a key Western ally in that had backed Imamo- Liberals and Democrats,
of clinging to power in the The controversial decision the fight against terrorism glu. said on Twitter. q