Cabinet set to unfreeze Palestinian funds
According to government officials, a majority of Cabinet ministers are expected to approve the transfer of tax revenue funds to the Palestinian Authority • The funds were frozen in October after UNESCO accepted "Palestine" as its 195th member.
Israel Hayom Staff and Associated Press
The Political-Security Cabinet is set to meet on Monday to approve the transfer of $100 million of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, funds that were frozen by the government following UNESCO's decision to accept “Palestine” as its 195th member on Oct. 31.
Defense ministry officials say that freezing PA tax revenues, which they say provide salaries for Palestinian security forces in the West Bank, can hurt Israel and lead to a deterioration in the security situation in the West Bank.
According to government officials, a majority of Cabinet ministers are expected to approve the transfer.
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Palestinian tax revenues are collected by Israel on behalf of the PA in accordance with the 1993 Oslo Accords agreement.
Despite the unfreezing of the tax revenue, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz is expected to soon announce a series of sanctions against the PA due to its continuing unilateral moves at the U.N. His proposal was said to include the possibility of freezing future PA tax revenues.
Meanwhile, due to a dearth of funding at UNESCO, the organization will not be accepting new projects until the end of the year, an official said. The U.S. made good on a threat to withdraw its contributions -- some $80 million annually, or one-fifth of the organization's budget -- to UNESCO when they accepted "Palestine" as a member. Now, UNESCO says, projects already in motion will be continued, but a decision on how the organization will operate next year has yet to be made.
I am of divided mind on this issue.
I agree that the Palestinian police in Judea and Samaria, are doing a good job of keeping the lid on terrorism, as of now.
However I feel this is more in wanting to keep Abbas in power and not wanting Hamas to seize control.
It is not because the PA want to protect the Jews of Israel. By Israel I mean all of Israel from the sea to the river.
I am also jaded enough to wonder if people in the defense establishment that have day to day contact with the leadership of the PA might be getting a kick back on these funds delivered to the PA.
So if Israel transfers the funds, it buys a little temporary peace and quite.
If on the other hand Israel takes the position you joined UNESCO and this is not acceptable and as a result you must know actions carry rewards and punishments.
Hamas then takes over people will be killed on both sides but maybe we then in the war win a victory that will give us Judea and Samaria forever.
Withhold the funds, get's my vote.
