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Palestinians accuse Israel of attempting to topple authority

Xinhua, February 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

A senior Palestinian official on Sunday accused Israel of seeking to topple the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) by withholding the tax revenue dues.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Palestinian Radio "Voice of Palestine" that the withholding of Palestinian tax money aims at causing a collapse in schools, hospitals and the Palestinian infrastructure."

Erekat called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility towards the Israeli measure.

There is an urgent need for the world to take actions that compel the Israeli government to stop what is going on immediately, he said.

Erekat was commenting on concerns raised by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry of the possible collapse of the PNA if Israel keeps withholding the tax dues.

In January, Israel decided to withhold the tax revenue dues paid every month to the PNA budget in response to the Palestinian decision to join 20 international agencies and treaties, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Israeli move has increased the economic crisis in the Gaza Strip, because the PNA has become unable to pay full salaries to tens of thousands of employees.

He also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to withhold the money to destroy the PNA and to keep the internal split between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Endit