The president of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Mahmoud Abbas, on Sunday rejected Israel’s release of frozen Palestinian tax revenue, stating that a third of the funds had been withheld by Israel.
Israel withheld a third of the $130 million a month tax customs, that had been frozen over past months, to cover Palestinian debts to Israeli utility companies.
Mr Abbas, in a speech made after Israel’s partial return of withheld Palestinian revenue, said,
“We are returning the money. Either they give it to us in full or we go to arbitration or to the court (ICC). We will not accept anything else.”
Israel started withholding Palestinian tax revenue in December after Palestine announced its intention to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) last year.
A spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to respond to a request to comment, reports Reuters.
Palestine joins ICC (01 Apr 2014)
Israel withheld a third of the $130 million a month tax customs, that had been frozen over past months, to cover Palestinian debts to Israeli utility companies.
Mr Abbas, in a speech made after Israel’s partial return of withheld Palestinian revenue, said,
“We are returning the money. Either they give it to us in full or we go to arbitration or to the court (ICC). We will not accept anything else.”
Israel started withholding Palestinian tax revenue in December after Palestine announced its intention to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) last year.
A spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to respond to a request to comment, reports Reuters.
Palestine joins ICC (01 Apr 2014)