Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly sent a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning him that Israel’s decision to cut funds from Ramallah at the same time as it works toward a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza is fueling mounting anger in the West Bank.
According to a Chanel 13 news report on Wednesday, Abbas dispatched PA Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh to meet with Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon after the security cabinet announced on Sunday that Israel would withhold around NIS 149 million ($43 million) in taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians over their payments to wounded Palestinian attackers and the families of slain attackers.
Israel forcefully opposes the payments, arguing that they incentivize violent attacks against Israelis. The Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership contends that they seek to provide social welfare to injured Palestinians and Palestinian families who have lost a breadwinner.
According to the report Al-Sheikh told Kahlon that the PA viewed the move very seriously and said it undermined the cooperation between the PA and Israel
“You are going for a deal with Hamas but at the same time slap more sanctions on the Palestinian Authority,” the report, citing Israeli officials, quoted al-Sheikh as saying.
Al-Sheikh told Kahlon that the PA opposes violence, but Israel’s decision “had stirred emotions,” and that the West Bank was on the “brink of an explosion.”
According to the report, Kahlon conveyed the message to Netanyahu and also briefed the cabinet on Wednesday.
Abbas has previously expressed his surprise that Israel seems to be trying to undermine the PA at the same time that is giving concessions to Hamas.
Hamas is a terror group that frequently issues threats against Israel, fires rockets at its territory and refuses to recognizes its existence. In contrast, the Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership coordinates security with Israel and recognizes its existence. Abbas has frequently said that he opposes violence and would like to negotiate an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
On Sunday, in a speech to Fatah members at the PA presidential headquarters in Ramallah, he called the situation a “strange paradox.”
“Here, we are blocked from funds and the land is being gradually taken. Over there [in Gaza], understandings for a calming [of tensions] and quiet are being done,” he said.
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