Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh stated Friday that the suspension of Western aid to the Palestinian Authority would neither bring down his Hamas-led government nor break his people. Thousands of Palestinians joined Hamas-organized rallies in Palestinian towns throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to show their support for the government.
"The Palestinian people will not give up their government no matter how many sacrifices we have to make. We are prepared to eat thyme, salt and olives," Haniyeh told hundreds of supporters in the Jebaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip.
According to the AP, Haniyeh said his government inherited an empty treasury and $700 million in debt from the previous cabinet led by Fatah Party. "There are some who insinuate that this government will only last a month or two. I tell you this government will serve its constitutional term of four years," he vowed. "We are keepers of the Palestinian rights. We will not betray them, we will not give them way and we will not back down."
