On Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a decision to release the tax revenue that Israel has been withholding from the Palestinian Authority. Israel, which collects taxes on behalf of the Authority, halted the transfer of about NIS 500 million at the beginning of this year as a response to the Authority's move to join the International Criminal Court in The Hague, opening the way to the filing of war crimes complaints against Israel. Israel alleged that the move was a violation of agreements between the two sides.
The Prime Minister's Office released the following statement: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today approved the recommendation of Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, the IDF and the ISA, to transfer to the Palestinian Authority tax revenues that have accrued in recent months.
"Accordingly, the tax revenues that accrued up until February will be transferred, offset by payments for services rendered to the Palestinian population, such as electricity, water and hospitalization.
"The decision was made - inter alia - based on humanitarian concerns and in overall consideration of Israel's interests at this time."
Netanyahu said, "Given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, one must act responsibly and with due consideration alongside a determined struggle against extremist elements."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 29, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015