The World - News from Aug. 24, 1988

Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat said his group will pay the salaries of Jordanian employees in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip who have been laid off or forced into retirement. Jordan early this month announced that it was letting go the 21,200 employees in phases, gradually eliminating payment of about $45 million a year in salaries. King Hussein said his decision to abandon his claim to the West Bank and to sever financial links with the occupied Gaza Strip is aimed at giving greater responsibilities to the PLO. Although Jordan laid off or retired the employees, Arafat said they will keep their jobs.