The Israeli government has announced a reduction in the amount of tax revenues that it transfers monthly to the Palestinian Authority, claiming that the money is given to Palestinian “terrorists” held in its jails and the families of dead “terrorists”, local media and agencies reported on Friday.
This decision has also come in response to the killing of two Israelis in alleged Palestinian attacks in the West Bank this week.
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered to cut the transfer of tax money collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority in response to the deadly attacks that left two Israeli killed,” Netanyahu’s spokesperson Ofir Gendelman said in statement.
Israeli man killed when car comes under fire near Hebron; Palestinian woman shot dead near Ibrahimi mosque https://t.co/iZxmIpzNqQ
— Electronic Intifada (@intifada) July 2, 2016
The announcement in the reduction in the amount of tax revenues that is transferred monthly to the Palestinian Authority, is said to be given to Palestinian “terrorists” held in its jails and the families of dead “terrorists”, local media and agencies reported on Friday.
The Israeli spokesperson said that the Palestinian Authority funds “terrorists” and their families by various money-laundering methods: “Incitement and pay-outs to terrorists and their relatives constitute an incentive to murder”.
Furthermore, “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered to cut the transfer of tax money collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority in response to the deadly attacks that left two Israeli killed,” Netanyahu’s spokesperson Ofir Gendelman said in statement.
The PA transfers funds to terrorists by various laundering methods; the more severe the acts of terrorism, the greater the amount of funds.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 1, 2016
Netanyahu’s office, stated that an undisclosed amount was to be deducted. According to Israeli and Palestinian officials, the tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the PA vary between $130 million and $155 million every month.
This decision will create problems for the PA, which already faces an uphill struggle to pay the monthly salaries of its employees.
Israel collects tax revenues on behalf of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority under the terms of the Oslo peace accords
Israel withheld Palestinian tax revenues in 2012 and 2015 in response to Palestinian moves to seek recognition of statehood.
(PC, Anadolu, MEMO)
