Congratulations, Condolences, and the Plunder of the People's Money

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

Candidate for the Palestinian Presidency

Whenever someone of standing takes up a post, or whenever such a person dies, our newspapers start to look like a hypocrites’ quarry or a graveyard for the departed. No one can object to a person who wishes, at his own private expense, to offer congratulations, condolences, or a show of support — but there is every reason to object when this is done at the expense of public funds.

We gave this sum to the owner of a demolished house in Rafah, to help him and his family cover their needs.

The publication of congratulations, condolences, and telegrams of support, and this squandering of publication resources at the expense of public money, must be stopped. This money belongs to the people, and no one has the right to use it however he pleases, on a whim. Why is condolence extended to so-and-so, and not to another? Unlike at the private level, discrimination among citizens is not permissible at the public level. We do not want to remain trapped within the same old circle of “the poor man’s death and the rich man’s disgrace.”

It could legally be permitted for the institution to which the deceased, or the person who achieved some great accomplishment, belonged, to offer condolences or congratulations to his family at the institution’s own expense; all other institutions should be barred from doing so. The Palestinian people need every single penny to help the poor and those who have suffered harm, and for reconstruction, and the squandering of money on hypocrisy and sham must be stopped.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “التهاني والتعازي ونهب أموال الشعب” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.