Israel, US to Destroy Palestinian Authority: Saeb Erekat

Ramallah, MINA – Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat on Sunday accused Israel and the United States (US) of trying to destroy the Palestinian Authority (PA) based in Ramallah.

Israel’s intention to cut PA tax funds was part of an Israeli-American plan that targets destroying the Palestinian Authority,” Erekat told Palestinian radio in an interview as reported by Daily Sabah.

Israeli authorities planned to cut funds for PA with the amount paid to Palestinian prisoners and their families.

“Israel will take this step after rejecting all agreements signed with us,” Erekat said.

“Field execution and intensification of settlement construction and demolition of houses and ethnic cleansing are part of Israel’s plan to destroy the PA.”

Israel collects around $175 million every month in the form of taxes on Palestinian imports and exports in the name of PA.

Tax revenue was the main source of PA income.

US-sponsored peace talks between Palestine and Israel collapsed in 2014 over the latter’s refusal to stop the construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Authority has rejected all US mediation in peace talks after President Donald Trump unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at the end of 2017.

Jerusalem remains the capital of Middle East conflict, with Palestinians’ wish that East Jerusalem which was occupied by Israel since 1967 could eventually function as the capital of independent Palestinian state. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)