Wall makes some Palestinians happy

The businessmen, using permits given to them by a high-ranking member of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat8217;s Cabinet, sold the cement to Israeli contractors at a 50 per cent profit.

In addition to aiding the Israeli projects and producing up to 5.5 million in profits, the cement arrangement cost the Palestinian public treasury as much as 1.6 million in uncollected taxes, say the investigators. They say it is unclear if the practice is continuing.

Public and international anger at corruption in the Palestinian Authority has been on a sharp rise in recent weeks; the cement sales represent the largest example of abuse to emerge so far. 8212;NYT