Israeli media, citing government sources, report that Tel Aviv will stop the tax payments it collects on behalf of the Palestinians. This decision is said to be in response to the Palestinians' request to join the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Palestinian representative to the United Nations officially submitted this request on December 12. At the same time, a group of U.S. congressional representatives and officials warned that the Palestinians might face 'punishment' for this action. On Saturday, December 13, the Haaretz newspaper reported that Tel Aviv has decided not to transfer the monthly tax share to the Palestinians, which amounts to approximately $127 million and is collected on their behalf based on previous agreements. The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted a senior Palestinian official who labeled Israel's decision as 'theft.' The French news agency also quoted Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official, stating that this action by Tel Aviv is 'a new war crime.' He emphasized that the Palestinians 'will not succumb to these pressures.' On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Palestinians' request to join the ICC as 'mysterious,' asserting that 'Palestine is not a country but an entity dependent on a terrorist organization.' Additionally, Reuters reported that an Israeli official stated that Palestinian officials 'should be in fear of legal steps' regarding their actions in this matter. According to this Israeli official, Tel Aviv is 'considering the possibility of legal action' against Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, and other officials. The latest round of tensions between Tel Aviv and the Palestinians arose following a resolution presented by Arab countries and the Palestinians aimed at achieving a peace agreement and ending the occupation of Palestinian territories by 2017. This resolution failed to secure the necessary votes in the United Nations Security Council. Following this, the Palestinian Authority announced that it had submitted a request for membership in the ICC. The United Nations spokesperson confirmed on Friday the receipt of Palestine's membership request to the ICC and also 16 international conventions.
Israel to 'Stop' Tax Payments to Palestinians
Israel has decided to stop tax payments to the Palestinians, amounting to approximately $127 million, in response to their request to join the International Criminal Court. This decision has been condemned by Palestinian officials, who describe it as a theft and a new war crime. The situation escalates tensions between Israel and Palestine amidst ongoing international legal battles.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Israel has decided to halt tax payments to the Palestinians, which amounts to about $127 million, in retaliation for their request to join the International Criminal Court. Palestinian officials have condemned this action as theft and a war crime.
- The tax payments are collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority based on previous agreements.
- The decision follows the Palestinians' formal request to join the ICC and is seen as a punitive measure by Israel.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has a long history marked by disputes over territory, governance, and national recognition. The ICC's role in this context is to address allegations of war crimes and seek accountability.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%