Abbas said in an interview with Sputnik: “Israel is piracy of millions of tax money that it collects on our behalf in exchange for a fee, which is a right of the Palestinian people according to the Paris Protocol.”
He added: “The seizure of these funds is a violation of international law that we will not remain silent about, and it has created a major financial and economic crisis, especially with regard to our ability to fulfill the Palestinian government’s obligations towards our people.”
He continued: “We called on the countries of the world, especially the United States, to pressure the occupation government to release the seized Palestinian funds, and we will raise this matter to international institutions and courts if Israel refuses to return these funds in accordance with the signed agreements.”
Earlier this week, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ordered the confiscation of 100 million shekels ($26 million) in tax funds allocated to the Palestinian Authority, saying it would be used to pay compensation to Israeli victims of terrorism.
In 2004, a law was passed that enshrined the Palestinian Authority’s responsibility to ensure a “dignified life” for current and former Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Israeli politicians regularly criticize the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah for giving financial support to the families of Palestinians killed or imprisoned for violence against Israel.
Source: Sputnik + Agencies
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2024-08-07 20:15:57
