PA sources said security commanders have been mulling a plan that would
reduce the salaries of thousands of members of the police and security
forces. They said the plan called for the establishment of a reserve force
that would receive a much smaller salary than the regular forces.
"There is a shortage of funds and we can't sustain the size of these
forces for much longer without significant foreign help," a PA source said.
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The sources said the plan was drafted in mid-2010 in after
consultations with PA allies in the European Union. They said PA security
commanders completed management training in Norway to help plan for a budget
shortfall over the next year.
Under the plan, the PA would place thousands of members of the security
forces from active to reserve duty. This meant that the officers would be on
standby for operations but would not report to work.
The sources said the standby officers would receive 70 percent of their
current salaries. New PA officers receive about $350 per month.
The PA has maintained a force of about 25,000 police and security
officers. The largest force is the police, with about 7,500 personnel.
The sources said Prime Minister Salam Fayad has been briefed on the
plan. But they said the prime minister, a former World Bank official, has
not yet approved the concept of a standby force.