Kerry, Abbas discuss Israeli withholding of Palestinian tax revenues

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas discussed on Wednesday in a telephone conversation Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, a senior Palestinian official said.

The Palestinian official news agency, Wafa, quoted a spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rdeineh, as saying that the two officials discussed several issues concerning the recent developments in the region.

“A major issue [that] was discussed on the phone is the Israeli withholding of the Palestinian tax revenue dues, as well as the issues which will be discussed on 4 March by the Palestinian Central Council,” said Abu Rdeineh.

The agency did not give further details.

Earlier, the head of the Palestinian National Council, Salim Zaanoun said the forthcoming Palestinian Central Council meeting will discuss “the future of Palestinian relations with Israel in light of the current political, security and economic developments.”

Several Palestinian leaders previously confirmed that the PLO will discuss security coordination with Israel in light of Israel’s continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues; an action that has made it impossible for the Palestinian government to pay its own employees.