Israel still undecided about paying tax revenues to Palestinian Authority

Sources in Israel claim that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is still undecided about a resumption of tax revenue payments to the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli government, it is said, remains fearful of a deterioration of the security situation in the occupied West Bank.

Prime Minister Netanyahu held a meeting with his eight senior ministers on Sunday to decide on the transfer of tax to the Palestinian Authority, after Tel Aviv had decided to halt payments in response to UNESCO’s approval of Palestinian membership. However, the cabinet meeting couldn’t reach a decision; the individual voting responses of the ministers were not revealed.

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Security and military circles had warned the Israeli government of the repercussions of continuing to freeze the Palestinian Authority’s tax revenue, as this could hinder the payment of salaries to Palestinian security personnel. This, believe Israeli security chiefs, could have a negative effect across the occupied West Bank.