PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) is threatening to take his case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, insisting Israel’s decision to withhold 450 million NIS in tax revenue funds is a violation of international law. The Israeli decision was in response to the unilateral PA move, taking its request for non-member observer nation status to the United Nations.
While Abu Mazen wants his money, and is pained over the embarrassing situation Israel has placed him in, the reality is that donor nations over the years have poured countless sums of monies into the PA, rarely if ever seeking transparency or accountability. As a result, the leaders of the PA since the signing of the Oslo Agreement in 1993 have significantly increased their personal wealth, but this does not seem to deter donors.
Arab League member nations are committed to giving the PA $100 million monthly as a “fiscal safety net”, aware of the economic difficulties in the PA. The monthly funding decision was made at the Qatar Arab League summit earlier this week.
PA officials in Ramallah report they require a minimum of $240 million monthly to cover the 153,000 civil service salaries.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Could someone explain to me why Israel is obligated under international law or any law or treaty, to give the PA any money at all every month?
I do not believe Israel is required. That does mean that this bozo fails to understand that. the PA threw the Oslo Accords out by going the UN for statehood. Now the PA can suffer the consequences.
#Rainus As I understand it this is taxes collected from the Palestinians and the PA is, in turn, meant to pay its bills such as for electricity which it has not been doing and hence the standoff.
The Israelis signed an agreement to collect taxes on behalf of the Palestinians. The UN decision means the Palestianians can sue if the Israeli don’t get around to turning over the money on a regular basis. There are many strategic reasons why the Israeli want control over much of the Palestinians income, incluing tariffs and taxes from Palestinians working in Israel.