“[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu goes to the polls at the expense of Palestinians’ blood livelihood,” Sheikh said.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEHPalestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas speaks at a meeting in Ramallah on March 19, 2018(photo credit: PPO)
The Palestinian Authority has returned tax and tariff revenues to Israel after the Israeli government deducted NIS 41 million, PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said on Wednesday.Hamdallah said in a television interview that the PA leadership took a decision on February 20 not to accept any payment if Israel deducts even one penny.Hamdallah again reiterated the PA’s commitment to providing financial aid to the families of Palestinian prisoners and “martyrs.”“We returned the payment after they (Israel) deducted the sum of NIS 41 million,” he said.Earlier, the head of the PA’s Civil Affairs Authority, Hussein al-Sheikh, said that Israel has started deducting the “funds of martyrs’ and prisoners’ families.” He, too, said that the PA has refused to receive all the revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinians because of the deduction.“[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu goes to the polls at the expense of Palestinians’ blood livelihood,” Sheikh said.Earlier this month, Netanyahu presented the Security Cabinet with a plan to implement the “pay to slay” law that was adopted by the Knesset last year. Under the law, Israel will deduct duties it collects on behalf of the Palestinians to offset the stipends the PA pays to the families of the prisoners and “martyrs.”
