Abbas will turn to ICC over tax revenues

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Wednesday that he may turn to the ICC to prosecute Israel over freezing and stealing the Palestinian tax revenues, Anadolu Agency reported.

During a meeting with the Fatah Executive Committee, Abbas said: “We will not accept all the cuts made by Israel in our tax revenues. If Israel continues this way, we would have arbitration based on the Oslo agreement. If this did not succeed, we would go to the ICC for this purpose.”

Abbas added: “Israel told us it is ready to discuss the issue of the money. We did this, but they said they wanted to deduct the amount they want without our agreement. They say we are owed to them for electricity, sewage, etc…”

The president insisted that the PA is turning to the ICC if alternatives to the court do not succeed.

“Palestine has been accepted by the ICC today (Wednesday) and became a full member,” he said. “This is a great achievement for the Palestinians as they can sue anyone oppressing them.”

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki received written notification from the ICC that Palestine had been accepted as a full member, according to a TV report.

ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah told Anadolu Agency that Palestine had become the court’s 123rd member country.