DayofPal—The Israeli Knesset has given preliminary approval to a bill that would allow the freezing of additional funds owed to the Palestinian Authority.
The move riase concerns that it targets the money linked to transfers to the Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli media, the bill, introduced by Likud lawmaker Moshe Pasal, would enable Israel to withhold an amount equivalent to the funds transferred by the Palestinian Authority to Gaza in the previous year.
The frozen money would reportedly be used to compensate Israelis affected by what the bill describes as “terror attacks originating from Gaza.”
The legislation will now return to the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee for further discussions before possible votes in its second and third readings.
Israel is already withholding around 14 billion shekels ($3.8 billion) in Palestinian tax revenues, known as clearance funds, worsening the Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis and forcing it to impose further austerity measures.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=76117
