Channel 13 News on Friday published details about the “relief measures” for the Palestinian Authority (PA) that the Political-Security Cabinet is set to discuss at its meeting on Sunday.
According to the report, the ministers are set to decide on the establishment of an industrial zone in the Palestinian Arab city of Tarqumiyah, northwest of Hebron. In addition, the ministers will also discuss the development of the "Marine" gas reservoir off the coast of Gaza.
A series of more limited economic benefits will be promoted during Sunday’s meeting, such as the spread of debt payments, the expansion of the operating hours of the Allenby Crossing and the issuance of biometric passports.
Diplomatic sources told Channel 13 News that a discussion is also expected to take place on the question of restoring the VIP permits to senior officials in the Palestinian Authority which were revoked by the cabinet in January, after the PA’s promotion of an anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations.
Sunday’s meeting was scheduled after the defense establishment recommended to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take steps to strengthen the Palestinian Authority, partly in the wake of the PA's deteriorating situation.
Last month, Kan 11 News revealed that the Palestinian Authority was discussing the possibility of declaring financial bankruptcy because of the difficult financial situation it has encountered. The meaning of such a decision would be the complete closure of PA official bureaus and a fear of the loss of stability in the territories under its control.
The financial debts of the Palestinian Authority swelled due to two main reasons: Israel deducts an average amount of 40 million shekels from the tax money it collects on behalf of the PA every month, due to its payment of salaries to the families of terrorists. In addition, the international financial aid to the Palestinian Authority is constantly decreasing every year.
(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)