Palestinian Authority Finance Minister Says Israel Withheld Taxes
The Palestinian Authority's finance minister stated that Israel's refusal to transfer customs taxes and continued occupation of the West Bank threaten the functioning of education, health care, and security services.
Le MondeThe Palestinian Authority faces an acute budget shortfall after Israel stopped transferring customs revenues collected on its behalf, according to an interview with its finance minister. Estephan Salameh said the withheld funds have placed the Authority in survival mode and created an existential threat to core public services.
He noted that the financial pressure has intensified since October 7, 2023.
in the West Bank A World Bank report published in May documented an unemployment rate above 27 percent and 18 percent of the population living in poverty. The report described a stalled economy in the territory occupied by Israel since 1967. Salameh said the combination of occupation policies and revenue withholding has produced an unprecedented reduction in the Authority's resources.
9, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich would be barred from entering France. Barrot cited the policy of withholding tax transfers and its effects on the Palestinian population. The finance minister's comments came one day after the French announcement and focused on the budgetary consequences for the Authority.
