Israel withholds Palestinian clearance funds again, deducts $200 million

Israel decided Monday to withhold clearance funds to the Palestinian Authority, and deducted around $200 million this month, worsening a financial crisis facing the Ramallah-based authority, Anadolu reports. A statement from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office claimed that most of the tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority this month were deducted to settle outstanding bills. “Out of a total of more than 740 million shekels ($248 million) collected this month, extensive deductions totaling approximately 590 million shekels ($197.7 million) were made,” the statement said. “These funds were redirected to cover the Palestinian Authority’s accumulated debts to the Israel Electric Corporation, water utilities, and environmental bodies,” it added. According to the statement, the remaining balance […]