EU lashes out at Israel’s decision to withhold Palestinian tax revenues

Ramallah (QNN) – The European Union condemned on Tuesday Israel’s recent decision to withhold the tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.

Communication Officer at the European Union (EU) Shadi Othman told official Voice of Palestine radio that the EU emphasized the need for Israel to respect the agreements signed with the PA and refrain from taking any unilateral action on the Palestinian tax revenues.

“The EU has maintained contact with its member states, urging them to put pressure on Israel, so that it refrains from implementing its decision,” he was quoted as saying by Wafa, the official PA news agency.

Othman also emphasized the EU’s ongoing support of the Palestinian Authority’s budget and made reference to the EU’s recent decision to increase support by over 70 percent to the UN organization responsible for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) following the US administration’s decision to halt funding for the agency.

Under the interim Paris Economic Protocol of 1994, Israel collects customs duties on goods imported by Palestinians and destined to the occupied Palestinian territories (West Bank and Gaza) that go through Israeli ports since the Palestinian borders are all under Israeli control.

Israel has occasionally withheld Palestinian money as a measure of punishment.