The Palestinian leadership is meeting in the coming days to discuss an “appropriate” response to Israel’s recent decision to deduct some $138 million from the tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The rationale behind the move is to “reduce attacks carried out by Palestinians.”
In July, the Israeli cabinet approved a law that slashes funds to the PA in the amount equivalent to what the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)—the dominant movement within the leadership – pays to Palestinian security prisoners and those who died in clashes, as well as their families. Israel often withholds funds for what it deems as egregious acts against its people or government.
Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh strongly condemned the Israeli law, and confirmed the PA finds it totally unacceptable and considers it as “piracy of the Palestinian people’s funds.”
“We will not accept any harm to the livelihood of our captive heroes and the families of martyrs and the wounded. We consider this an arbitrary Israeli decision that represents a unilateral blow to the signed agreements, including the Paris Protocol on economic relations,” he said, warning of serious repercussions at all levels.
The Palestinian Finance Ministry has admitted that it had transferred NIS 100 million (roughly $27.5 million) to help families in cases in which the primary breadwinner was incarcerated or killed. According to the new Israeli law, the PA is violating the Oslo Accords by transferring funds to these families.