Israeli Legislation to withhold Palestinian Authority (PA) funds over payments to imprisoned Palestinian attackers and their families is “theft,’’ a Palestinian official said on Tuesday.
On Monday, Israel’s parliament passed legislation to withhold over 300 million dollars in taxes and customs collected on behalf of the already cash-strapped PA, an amount equal to welfare payments given to Palestinian prisoners, their families, and the families of those killed in the conflict with Israel.
Some of the Palestinian prisoners and their families who receive welfare payments are convicted of killing Israelis or participating in attacks.
Speaking to Voice of Palestine radio, Issa Qaraqe, head of the Prisoners’ Commission, said on Tuesday that the funding freeze is “theft and piracy of Palestinian money as well as an arbitrary and racist law.’’
Israel has decried the payments for encouraging attacks, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said the payments are a “social responsibility’’ to those affected by the Israeli occupation.
The funding freeze is a major setback for the PA, which faces constant budget shortfalls.
It also comes as the United States is reviewing its aid to the PA after similar legislation demanding funding cuts until the prisoner payments are stopped passed the U.S. Congress in March.
Israel collects taxes for the PA, mostly on goods destined for the Palestinian Territories imported through Israeli ports.
The funds are then regular transferred to the PA as outlined by a 1994 economic agreement. (dpa/NAN)