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Israel Tightens Economic Sanctions on Palestinians
Israel has decided to impose tough economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the aftermath of the killing of four Israelis on Monday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
This has come as an additional response apart from the closure on the territories under full Palestinian control following the incidents.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) manning the checkpoints between Israel and the Palestinian autonomous areas have been ordered not to allow any goods but humanitarian aid products, such as food and medicines, to enter the self-rule territories.
In a new move against the policy abided by in previous weeks, the Israeli authorities have decided to limit the amount of gasoline available to the PNA to the minimal level.
In the meantime, Israel has tightened a decision to prevent the transfer of raw materials which could be used by the PNA for various projects, including cement and concrete.
At present, shortage of various non-food items is apparent in the Palestinian territories.
Israeli security personnel say that significant economic hardship resulting from the closure and trade-blockage policies can be felt across the West Bank and Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak also said on Thursday that Israel is withholding millions of dollars in tax revenues owed to the PNA as part of Israel's efforts to pressure the Palestinians to stop violence.
In the past six weeks, Israel has transferred only 30 million shekels (about 7.3 million U.S. dollars) to the PNA in rebates on tax and customs collected on Palestinian imports and labor, Israeli leading daily Ha'aretz Friday quoted economic sources in Gaza as saying.
Before the outbreak of the current Palestinian Al Aqsa Intifada (or uprising) on September 28, Israel transferred an average of 233 million shekels (about 56.8 million dollars) to PNA a month.
The figures show the freeze on funds Israel is obligated to transfer to the PNA each month has already begun, but it was the first time Israel had publicly admitted to any suspicion, the paper said.
The Palestinians have accused the freezing of the funds as part of Israeli aggression against them. In an official statement, PNA Chairman Yasser Arafat charged "Barak has declared war on us, whether it be economic or military."
Under their agreements, Israeli and Palestinian representatives from both sides are supposed to meet on the 20th each month to submit receipts and invoices from their transactions. Six days later, the two sides are expected to make the necessary financial transfers.
IDF estimates that the number of Palestinians currently working in Israel has dropped by 80 percent since the eruption of the bloody clashes which have so far claimed more than 220 lives, mostly Palestinians.
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