The Palestinian Authority refused to accept the money that Israel collects on its behalf, Channel 12 News commentator Amit Segal reported on Monday.
According to the report, the PA refused to accept the funds, in the amount of 402 million shekels, due to an extensive and significant offset made in the funds in accordance with the decision of the Cabinet. The funds that have been offset are intended for Gaza and for families of terrorists.
Segal revealed that in recent days, a senior defense official contacted Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and suggested that he transfer the funds, including the funds intended for the Gaza Strip, in accordance with a mechanism that will be established under American supervision, to ensure that the money is not transferred to Hamas. Smotrich refused and the aforementioned funds were then refused by the Palestinian Authority.
About two weeks ago, Smotrich demanded an urgent discussion in the cabinet on the question of transferring funds to the Palestinian Authority amid its support for terrorism and due to the transfer of hundreds of millions of the funds to the Gaza Strip.
The Political-Security Cabinet later decided to offset from the PA’s funds all the money intended for the Gaza Strip, in addition to the offset that is carried out, in accordance with the law, of funds paid to terrorists and their families.
However, the decision stated that after the offset, Israel will transfer the tax money to the Palestinian Authority during the war.