The Israeli Security Cabinet decided Sunday (Feb. 17) to implement the law freezing Palestinian Authority funds, which was approved by the Knesset in July 2018 and to deduct NIS 502,697,000 ($138 million) from the funds designated for transfer to the Palestinian Authority by the State of Israel.
Security officials presented data showing that in 2018, the Palestinian Authority transferred the above-stated amount to terrorists imprisoned in Israel and their families and to released prisoners.
“Therefore, it was decided to freeze the same amount of funds from the tax revenues that Israel collects for the Palestinian Authority,” the Security Cabinet said in a communique on Sunday night.
Prime Minister / Defense Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “instructed security officials to step up checks on additional Palestinian Authority payments linked to terrorism, including those to terrorists and their families,” the Security Cabinet said in its communique. “The amount frozen will be updated as per the information received.”