The Israeli government has approved a plan that allows the transfer of frozen Palestinian tax funds to another country while retaining the right to determine the timing of the transfer to the Palestinian Authority. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the cabinet's decision has the support of Norway and the United States, which will be the guarantors of the framework.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) stated today that it wants the funds in full and will not accept conditions that prevent it from paying its employees, including those in the Gaza Strip. Hussein AlSheikh, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO, emphasized that "any violation of our financial rights or any conditions imposed by Israel that prevent the Authority from paying our people in Gaza are rejected by us." He added: "We call on the international community to stop this act of piracy and stealing of the Palestinian people's funds and to compel Israel to transfer all our money."
According to interim peace agreements, the Israeli Ministry of Finance collects taxes on behalf of the Palestinians and makes monthly transfers to the Palestinian Authority, but there are ongoing disputes between the two sides regarding this arrangement.
