Israel cuts funds to PA over claims of supporting terrorism

The Israeli government has announced a reduction in the amount of tax revenues that it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and transfers monthly, local media and agencies reported on Friday. Israel claims that the money is given to Palestinian “terrorists” held in its jails and the families of dead “terrorists”.

In a statement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the amount to be deducted was not mentioned, but it confirmed that Israel normally transfers about $130 million a month to the PA and the deduction would be taken from this. “Incitement and payouts to terrorists and their relatives constitute an incentive to murder,” claimed the prime minister’s spokesperson.

The move will create problems for the PA, which faces an uphill struggle to pay the monthly salaries of its employees.

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. Israel has cut or stopped the payments altogether several times as a punitive measure against the Palestinians.