PA debt crisis undermines security activities in West Bank

Private oil stations have stopped supplying vehicles with diesel and gasoline because of the crippling financial crisis, spokesman of the Palestinian Authority (PA) security services in the West Bank Adnan Al-Damiri said.

Al-Damiri warned that this measure would paralyse the activities of the security services. He noted that most of the security missions use vehicles. He asked the PA to take the issue seriously in order to get an appropriate and quick solution.

The problem is attributed to the huge outstanding payments owed by the PA in the West Bank to the owners of the oil stations.

The PA lives mainly on foreign donations and tax revenues collected by Israel. Both are subject to the commitment of the PA with international demands regarding protecting Israel’s security.

Last month, peace talks between Palestine and Israel came to an end without a deal being struck. The PA has since announced a reconciliation agreement with Hamas, in retaliation Israel placed restrictions on PA tax revenues.