On Wednesday 2nd January, the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced the Palestinian Authority will cancel outstanding electricity debts for every West Bank resident who is unable to pay the electricity bills owed until Dec. 31, 2012. Earlier on Sunday, Salam Fayyad, signed a deal with popular committees in West Bank refugee camps ending refugees' exemption from electricity costs, but also canceling all their outstanding debts. Refugees in the West Bank's different cities gathered on Tuesday to protest against the new law, leading to violent clashes with Palestinian security forces.