Israel freezes funds for Palestinian prisoners’ families
Al Jazeera, july 2, 2018
Legislation
will deduct money the Palestinians allocate to prisoners and others killed by
Israeli forces from taxes.
will deduct money the Palestinians allocate to prisoners and others killed by
Israeli forces from taxes.
 |
| For Palestinians, the families are widely seen as victims of a half-century Israeli occupation [AP] |
Israel’s
parliament has passed a law that withholds hundreds of millions of dollars in
funds from the Palestinians over welfare payments given to prisoners and their
families.
parliament has passed a law that withholds hundreds of millions of dollars in
funds from the Palestinians over welfare payments given to prisoners and their
families.
The
Knesset, Israel’s parliament, approved on Monday the law with 87 of the 120
lawmakers voting in favour and 15 opposing.
Knesset, Israel’s parliament, approved on Monday the law with 87 of the 120
lawmakers voting in favour and 15 opposing.
The new
legislation will deduct the money that the Palestinians allocate to prisoners
and others killed by Israeli forces from taxes collected by Israel on behalf of
the Palestinian Authority.
legislation will deduct the money that the Palestinians allocate to prisoners
and others killed by Israeli forces from taxes collected by Israel on behalf of
the Palestinian Authority.
Lawmaker
Avi Dichter, a co-sponsor of the law, said the families of Palestinian
prisoners had easy access to these funds.
Avi Dichter, a co-sponsor of the law, said the families of Palestinian
prisoners had easy access to these funds.
Arab
lawmakers railed against the bill ahead of the vote.
lawmakers railed against the bill ahead of the vote.
Jamal
Zahalka, of the Joint List of Arab parties, said the bill was
“despicable”.
Zahalka, of the Joint List of Arab parties, said the bill was
“despicable”.
“You
are stealing from the Palestinian people,” Zahalka shouted.
are stealing from the Palestinian people,” Zahalka shouted.
The
Israeli move deepened a budget crunch already hit hard by US cuts in aid.
Israeli move deepened a budget crunch already hit hard by US cuts in aid.
Israel
has long pushed for the Palestinians to halt the stipends – which benefit
roughly 35-thousand families of Palestinians killed and wounded in the conflict
with Israel – saying the practice encourages violence.
has long pushed for the Palestinians to halt the stipends – which benefit
roughly 35-thousand families of Palestinians killed and wounded in the conflict
with Israel – saying the practice encourages violence.
Among the
beneficiaries are families of Palestinian prisoners and others who were killed
by Israeli forces.
beneficiaries are families of Palestinian prisoners and others who were killed
by Israeli forces.
The
stipends total approximately 330 million US dollars, roughly seven per cent of
the Palestinian Authority’s five billion US dollar budget in 2018.
stipends total approximately 330 million US dollars, roughly seven per cent of
the Palestinian Authority’s five billion US dollar budget in 2018.
Palestinians
say the tax revenues, collected by Israel for them under past peace agreements,
are their money, and that the Palestinian Authority has a responsibility to all
of its citizens like any other government.
say the tax revenues, collected by Israel for them under past peace agreements,
are their money, and that the Palestinian Authority has a responsibility to all
of its citizens like any other government.
For
Palestinians, the families are widely seen as victims of a half-century Israeli
occupation.
Palestinians, the families are widely seen as victims of a half-century Israeli
occupation.
Senior
Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi, accused Israel of theft and piracy.
Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi, accused Israel of theft and piracy.
“This
is nothing short of highway robbery, this is real piracy, they are stealing
Palestinian funds, it’s not theirs to decide what to do with it, if we were
free we wouldn’t need Israel to collect customs.” she said.
is nothing short of highway robbery, this is real piracy, they are stealing
Palestinian funds, it’s not theirs to decide what to do with it, if we were
free we wouldn’t need Israel to collect customs.” she said.
The
Israeli law passed the same day that Australia said it ended direct aid to the
Palestinian Authority, claiming Australian donations could increase its
capacity to pay Palestinians convicted of politically motivated violence.
Israeli law passed the same day that Australia said it ended direct aid to the
Palestinian Authority, claiming Australian donations could increase its
capacity to pay Palestinians convicted of politically motivated violence.
The
cash-strapped Palestinian Authority, which relies heavily on the Israeli tax
funds and international aid, has suffered from chronic budget problems.
cash-strapped Palestinian Authority, which relies heavily on the Israeli tax
funds and international aid, has suffered from chronic budget problems.
