Zuhdi Shubeitah
العربية

Archive

382 articles in 2022 · 534 of 534 available in English (full Arabic archive)

  1. The Palestinian Economy in FiguresTranslated from ArabicEffects of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Palestinian EconomyThe article compares net revenues from 1 Jan–31 Jul 2020 with the same period in 2019 using Ministry of Finance data, detailing declines in local tax and non-tax revenues and disruptions in clearance revenues linked to the Palestinian National Authority’s refusal to accept transfers.
  2. Public Affairs & PoliticsTranslated from ArabicJerusalem International Airport — Qalandiya, Jerusalem, PalestineA personal memoir recalling the author’s departure from Jerusalem International Airport (Qalandiya) in 1966 and reflecting on subsequent events affecting Palestinians, settlements, and visits to his hometown Azzun during the olive season.
  3. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicNet Lending: When Public Revenue Becomes Public Debt in PalestineThe article examines how "net lending"—amounts deducted from clearance revenues—has reduced revenues for the Palestinian National Authority, increased public debt and domestic borrowing, and strained the general budget and private-sector payments.
  4. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicThe Ministry of Health and An-Najah University Hospital in Palestine in 2019The article examines findings from the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) 2019 report on the Palestinian Ministry of Health, detailing audit results from 2017–2019 including failures in medical device management, referrals, training, storage, and concerns about Palestine Hospital in Cairo.
  5. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicPalestine Hospital in Cairo / Ministry of Health — PalestineThe Diwan audited Palestine Hospital (affiliated with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society) for 2017–2018 and documents governance, administrative, recordkeeping and financial deficiencies, including large accumulated losses and unclear legal status.
  6. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicSheep Distribution Project — Ministry of Agriculture in PalestineThis article reviews the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) 2019 compliance audit of the Ministry of Agriculture’s 2017 Sheep Distribution Project, outlining procurement, delivery, beneficiary selection, and legal shortcomings identified by the audit.
  7. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicMinistry of Higher Education and Hebron University in Palestine, 2020The article summarizes a 2017 audit by the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) of Hebron University, detailing governance, financial management and compliance shortcomings and the university’s response.
  8. Public Affairs & PoliticsTranslated from ArabicSafe Havens for Tyrants' MoneyThe article examines historical cases where national funds and leaders' wealth were transferred abroad, citing examples from Iran, Haiti, and the Philippines and the role played by central banks and foreign banks.
  9. Public Affairs & PoliticsTranslated from ArabicPositive Energy and the Saying ‘Half the Glass Full’The piece reflects on positive energy and the proverb of seeing the glass half full, arguing that change must be active across public health, the economy, and politics, and noting that many Arab regimes have grown resistant to renewal.
  10. Views & ReflectionsTranslated from ArabicMaxims with Scattered AgendasThe article examines several famous sayings and how they’ve been used politically and economically, including Keynes on inflation and James Carville’s role in popularizing “It’s the economy, stupid.” It also notes how some governments fabricate crises to distract from economic problems.
  11. Public Affairs & PoliticsTranslated from ArabicReadings and Coordinates: From Texts of Read BooksA short collection of translated reflections and excerpts touching on media, history, memory, aging, political power, and personal fear.
  12. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicExemptions for Private Cars for People with Disabilities from Customs Duties and Taxes in PalestineBased on the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) 2019 compliance audit, the article examines problems and gaps in the legal framework, oversight, coordination, and committee procedures for granting car duty and tax exemptions to persons with disabilities in Palestine.
  13. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicMinistry of Social Development and the Emirati Fund for the Rehabilitation of Persons with DisabilitiesThis article examines the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) audit of the Emirati Fund for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (covering 2018 to 31-3-2019), highlighting governance, collection, reporting and oversight deficiencies.
  14. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicLoans for Released Detainees — Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs in Palestine (2016/2017)The article reviews an Audit Office compliance audit of the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs’ loans program for 2016–2017, documenting weaknesses in governance, recordkeeping, bank transfers, interest collection, and loan recovery.
  15. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicNorthern Electricity Distribution Company Public Shareholding Limited (Palestine)The State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) audited the Northern Electricity Distribution Company and documented operational, financial and governance shortcomings, including increased connection times, outages, ~18% electricity losses, tax-reporting and hiring violations, and disputed vehicle purchases.
  16. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicThe Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs and Management of Endowment Properties in PalestineThis article examines a 2018 Diwan compliance audit of the General Administration of Endowment Properties at the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, summarizing findings on weak monitoring, incomplete records, financial discrepancies, and the Ministry's response.
  17. Views & ReflectionsTranslated from ArabicSpring Has Sprung in PalestineThe piece reflects on traditional sayings about the countryside and describes winter rains that bring seeds to sprout, calling them a divine blessing and contrasting them with human concerns like wages.
  18. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicAgricultural Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture in PalestineThe State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) audited the General Administration for Agricultural Marketing for 2017 and documents shortcomings including uninspected imports, an inequitable quota system, weak market studies, limited export coordination, and poor documentation.
  19. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicMinistry of Health and the Patient Waiting System in PalestineThis article examines the Ministry of Health’s handling of patient waiting lists in public hospitals (2016–2018), auditing procedures and standards in outpatient clinics, surgical departments, and radiology, and workforce data including West Bank population and hospital capacity.
  20. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicViolations in Palestine’s Infrastructure SectorExamines a State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) report detailing alleged mismanagement, contractual breaches, and governance weaknesses in the General Authority for Cities and Industrial Zones’ development of four industrial cities in Palestine.
  21. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicVehicle Imports and Car Dealerships in PalestineExamines the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) report on licensing, customs clearance, tax compliance and internal-control weaknesses in vehicle imports and car dealerships in Palestine.
  22. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicLivestock Slaughterhouses in Palestine, 2017The State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) audited slaughterhouse management in the northern governorates (West Bank) in 2017, finding only 20% of animals slaughtered in slaughterhouses and noting weak oversight, legal gaps, and low health compliance.
  23. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicAdvances and Loans in the Military Financial Administration in Palestine in 2016The article examines the SAACB audit of the Central Financial Administration for 2016, documenting unclosed advances, unresolved bank reconciliations, accounting irregularities, and exceptional disbursements closed without supporting documents.
  24. Public Affairs & PoliticsTranslated from ArabicBarrels Untie Trousers in Politics and BeyondThe author recounts a bus ride where passengers discussed the US elections and international politics. An elderly man offers the proverb "Barrels untie trousers," prompting the author to reflect on power, changing interests, and remaining true to principles.
  25. Oversight & AccountabilityTranslated from ArabicPalestinian Diplomatic Passport dated 15 July 2018Examines an audit of VIP diplomatic passports valid until 15-7-2018, recording procedural gaps and irregular exceptions in issuance, including unpublished rules, improper exemptions, and passports granted to non-entitled persons.