EU slams Israel’s deduction of $138m of PA tax revenues

The European Union yesterday slammed an Israeli decision to deduct $138 million of the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s tax revenues, Al-Resalah newspaper reported.

Speaking to the Voice of Palestine radio station, the EU Communication Officer Shadi Othman slammed the Israeli government’s decision and stressed that the EU emphasised the need for Israel to respect the agreements signed with the Palestinians and refrain from taking unilateral actions.

READ: Rights group calls for international effort to stop Israel slashing PA funds 

Othman said that the EU is maintaining contact with its member states, urging them to put pressure on Israel so that it refrains from implementing its decision.

The EU’s ongoing stance, he said, is to support the PA’s budget, making reference to the EU’s recent decision to increase support by over 70 per cent to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) following the US decision to halt funding the agency.