Last update - 00:00 03/10/2006
Nazareth mayor on hunger strike to protest withholding of funds
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
Nazareth mayor Ramez Jaraisi on Tuesday went on a hunger strike in front of the Ministry of Interior in Jerusalem to protest its withholding of funds from the municipality.
Nazareth municipality's coffers are empty. Workers have not received pay for the months of August and September and the water company is threatening to cut the city's supply off as of Wednesday if it does not pay its debts.
Jaraisi says the interior ministry is denying it money under the claim it failed to follow a reform plan.
Israel's ports in Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat went on a three-hour strike last Thursday to protest the government's withholding of funds.
The interior ministry said in response to the accusations that the finance ministry is withholding the funds and that they would be given to the Nazareth municipality as soon as they are received.