Civil servant pay tied to nonperformance

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RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's public employees are getting paid on one condition: Stay home.

Such is the irony of life in the Gaza Strip now that Hamas militants are firmly in charge. A rival pro-Western government in the West Bank is delivering salaries to most of Gaza's civil servants as long as they don't work.

The moderate Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas doesn't want its money propping up Hamas, which violently seized control of Gaza in June.

But neither does it want to punish Gaza's mostly pro-Fatah 90,000 civil servants whose salaries form the backbone of the already greatly bruised economy.

The result is a lot of inactivity. And many — fearful for their safety in a Hamas-dominated land — aren't pleased about their holiday from work.

Abu Samer, a former security official in the prime minister's office, spends his days channel surfing and Internet browsing in search of news that might offer hope that Hamas' rule could be short-lived.

Mustafa, a senior police detective until Hamas' takeover, plays cards and watches TV much of the day and is "very bored."

Abu Osama, a Fatah-allied out-of-work border official, said that since Hamas' takeover he has gone from smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day to two packs. He finds himself snapping at his two children.

"If you're in a good mood, your mood is reflected to your family," said the 39-year-old Gazan.

Gaza's beaches are packed these days, especially at night. Many out-of-work civil servants have taken to hanging out at the beach until the wee hours of the morning — then sleeping until late to avoid boredom.

The fact that the idle workers interviewed did not wish to use their full names is a testament to their anxiety. Hamas issued an amnesty for its Fatah rivals soon after seizing power, but arrests, beatings and harassment are becoming common.

Abu Nasser, a local anti-drug official under Fatah, said agents for Gaza's Hamas rulers recently stormed his house, confiscating documents, his car and a pistol. He is still collecting his salary from Fatah, but staying at home.