Netanyahu does not want PA to collapse

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned about the possible collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA) due to the financial crisis it is currently facing, local media reported.

The Palestinian newspaper Al-Resalah said that the Israeli TV Channel 12 had reported a meeting between Netanyahu and his Financial Minister Moshe Kahlon to discuss the crisis facing the PA.

According to the channel, Netanyahu is worried that the PA’s rejection of some tax revenues collected by Israel might lead to its collapse.

New UN report found that the PA is on verge of economic and political collapse as its employees have only received between 40 and 60 per cent of their salaries for the second consecutive month.

Palestinian economic expert at Al-Najah University Nael Musa said PA-Israeli relations are built on security cooperation and this pushes Israel to look for alternatives to end the PA’s crisis.

READ: PA’s collapse will cause ‘chaos in the West Bank,’ warns former official

Speaking to Al-Resalah, Musa said: “Israel’s interest is to keep the PA alive without making it strong. It [Israel] is using all means to prevent the PA’s collapse.”

Musa also revealed that Netanyahu asked his European partners to help solving the PA’s crisis, expecting that Israel will continue to withhold PA taxes until the formation of a new Israeli government.

On 31 March, Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon signed an order to deduct 42 million shekels ($11,578,350) from taxes collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This came in accordance with the law passed in February that stipulated deducting Palestinian prisoner stipends from the PA’s coffers.