RAMALLAH: Hussein Al-Sheikh, the Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee, has strongly rejected any deductions from the tax funds Israeli collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, and which may hinder the ability of the PA to fulfill its obligations towards the Palestinian people in Gaza.
“Any reduction in our financial rights or any conditions imposed by Israel that may hinder the Palestinian National Authority from providing for our people in Gaza is rejected by us,” Al-Sheikh said in a press statement.
Al-Sheikh urged the international community “to halt this practice of piracy and theft of Palestinian funds and compel Israel to transfer all our funds” without any deductions.
Earlier in November, the Palestinian Ministry of Finance announced its refusal to accept the tax revenues from Israel after the latter had deducted the portion designated for Gaza.
This morning, the Israeli Cabinet approved what it called a plan to transfer tax funds to the Palestinian Authority through Norway as a
third party.
The Israeli decision, made at the request of the U.S. administration, entails depositing the tax funds, totaling between 750-800 million shekels, into an account in Norway. The Palestinian Authority can then access the West Bank’s share from the Norwegian account, while Gaza’s share remains in the same account.
According to the decision, Norway is prohibited from transferring funds to Gaza, even in the form of a loan. If such a transfer occurs, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is authorized to stop the transfer, and the timing of the transfer is determined by him.
Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA