Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed yesterday to freeze money transfers by Israel to the Palestinian Authority after a deadly Palestinian attack on a young woman.
Israel collects about $US127 million a month in Customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets that transit through Israeli ports and then transfers it to the PA.
The Knesset last year passed legislation to partially withhold funds, in response to PA payments to families of Palestinians jailed by Israel for attacks on Israelis.
“By the end of the week, the staff-work necessary for implementing the law on deducting terrorists’ salaries will be completed,” Mr Netanyahu — who faces a general election in April — said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. “Next Sunday I will convene the security cabinet and we will approve the necessary decision to deduct the funds. Let nobody doubt, the funds will be deducted at the start of next week.”
Read the article in The Australian (AFP).