Interesting article.

Fundamentally, Fatah is a failed entity, though there are some very good people who work within it. It failed as it could not evolve from its roots. The article speaks to one such problem with the lack of transparency and the ATMs which continue to pay out support money for the dead. It does mention the over-spend with other external agencies including those inside of Israel. Granted it does not have the time to go into too much depth, but the opaqueness of the budget is tied back to when Fatah was a true underground organization - now the opaqueness hides the excesses.

However, I think the article tries to simplify some aspects of the situation which I think are also fundamental. The PA can not address things because it is stuck in this perpetual poverty cycle. Corruption can not be prosecuted because the police are off working second jobs or are open to bribery because of their need.

I get some hints that Israel plays on this to some level - where they knowingly accept debt from a group which can not pay. There is some advantage to keeping your foe on the back foot. Israel is definitely not trying to help here. But then again, neither is any other party. Not trying to throw Israel under the bus - but they seem to be taking full advantage here to keep the PA at some level of impotence. But then again - the silence from others is extremely deafening...

Leads to a nice ethical pretzel.

Have to ask others - what is the solution? Being absorbed into Israel or carved into ineffectual enclaves seems to be a rather non-starter.