The spokesperson for the European External Action Service called on Thursday 21 February for the full implementation of the economic and fiscal agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The Hebrew State has decided to withhold a portion of the tax revenues it regularly transfers to the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords, which would correspond to the amount that the PA would pay to Palestinians detained in Israel, their families, and released prisoners. In retaliation for this decision, on February 20, the PA announced that it would no longer accept any tax revenue unless it was transferred in full.
“We have been in contact with both sides and have clearly expressed our hope that the economic and fiscal agreements will continue to be fully implemented [...] Meanwhile, we call on the Palestinian Authority to continue to accept tax transfers on a provisional basis, which does not constitute a legal or political endorsement of Israeli deductions”, the spokesperson said in her statement.
She reiterated that it was in the interest of both parties that the PA was operational, thus ensuring the health, education and security of millions of Palestinians.
The spokesperson also expressed the concerns of the EU about the nature of the Palestinian system of payments to detainees and families of so-called “martyrs”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)