Alleged 'job exchange' between Palestinian ministers' daughters causes outrage

An alleged job exchange between two Palestinian ministers for their daughters has caused uproar on social media.

The alleged exchange reportedly occurred between Palestinian ministries, in which Majdi al-Saleh - minister of the local government – and Mohammad Ziyara - minister of public works and housing – employed each other's daughters, according to activists and social media users.

The outrage following the scandal prompted the Palestinian government and Anti-Corruption Commission to condemn any illegal job appointments.

“Any appointments that are not subject to the laws… in force in the Personnel Council and have not taken into account the standards of integrity and transparency are illegal appointments that will be suspended,” Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh wrote in a statement.

“A review process will be conducted for the appointments that were made previously and the violator will be stopped,” the Prime Minister added.

The Palestinian Anti-Corruption commission commended the prime minister’s remarks and stated that investigations have begun.

“The competent authorities of the Anti-Corruption Authority began following up the information that was circulated about the so-called "job exchange", which is suspected of taking place outside the framework of the law,” the commission said in a statement on Wednesday.

“[We] began researching and investigating this matter to find out all the details related to it,” they said, adding that the Prime Minister’s decision “supports the commission’s efforts to enhance integrity and prevent corruption measures”.

Anger spread across social media as activists condemned those in power.

“When your father is a minister, don't worry, your job is ready,” one person said.

“So where should the person whose father is not a minister go… the one who works hard and tires themselves ? another wrote. 

Journalist Firas Tanneh likened the alleged event to a marriage exchange, stating "employment in the ministries of the authority, is like a marriage exchange, employ my daughter, i'll employ yours,” he said.

The New Arab has contacted the Palestinian ministries of the local government and of public works and housing, alongside the Palestinian embassy in London, for comment but did not receive a response.