UMKR Newsletter Winter-Spring 2019: In the News: Israel/Palestine

Above: In this recently revised U.S. government map of northern Israel/Palestine, tweeted by U.S. Mideast Envoy Jason Greenblatt, the border between Israel and Lebanon and the border of the West Bank are dotted lines and are identified as Armistice Lines. The entire border with Syria is a solid line and includes the now unmarked occupied territory of the Golan Heights within Israeli territory, in contradiction of international law and consensus.

See the map below for comparison. (Note that "Lake Tiberias" and "Sea of Galilee" are alternate names for the same body of water.)

Since the Oslo Accords were set in

place in the early 90's, a large part of

Palestinian tax revenue is collected

by Israel. Israel is supposed to transfer

that money to the Palestinian

Authority (PA) on a monthly basis.

It makes up roughly two thirds of the

Palestinian Authority's income and

15% of Palestinian GDP. However, as

a form of punishment, Israel has

sometimes withheld that vital income

that makes up about half of the PA budget.

In February 2019, Israel announced it would withhold hundreds of million in taxes, because the PA makes payments to families of political prisoners and Palestinians who have been killed by Israel, virtually all of whom Israel labels as "terrorists." The World Bank reports this would create a crisis for the already dire Palestinian economy, and the Palestinian Authority has announced austerity measures in response.

The suffering and hugely deprived population of 2 million people in Gaza will be hardest hit (photo). Back in September 2018, the World Bank warned that Gaza's economy was in "free fall." Israel’s recent punitive action follows brutally crippling measures by the Trump Administration: slashing $300 million in aid to already under-funded UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees, as well as cutting $200 million in other aid to Palestine. The World Food Programme and other international aid agencies have had to cut back their services as a result.

The situation is further complicated by the current refusal of the PA to accept ANY payment of tax revenue as long as Israel arbitrarily withholds some of that revenue, all of which it is obligated to give to the Palestinian Authority. Some relief is on the way, though probably not enough: in April this year, the Arab League pledged $100 million per month to partially make up for other sources of income the Palestinians have lost. However, some analysts are predicting a collapse of the Palestinian Authority.

READ MORE

US News & World Report: Israel to Withhold $138 Million in Palestinian Funds

Middle East Monitor: World Bank: Palestinian economy on the verge of collapsing

Ynet News: No money in the West Bank, no security

Electronic Intifada: Israel’s freezing of Palestinian tax funds “collective punishment”

Mondoweiss: PA announces major austerity measures

Haaretz: Gaza Economy in 'Free Fall', World Bank Warns

Haaretz: What Israel Does to the Palestinian Authority Is Daylight Robbery

Palestine Chronicle: Israel Rejects France’s Request to Repay Money Deducted

from Palestinian Tax Revenues

Al Jazeera: Arab League pledges $100M in summit

Haaretz: Palestinian Fund Freeze: Who Will Help Netanyahu Save the Oslo Accords This Time?

Haaretz: Palestinian Authority Is Collapsing, and Annexation Could Follow
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UMKR Newsletter - Winter-Spring 2019
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IN THE NEWS: ISRAEL/PALESTINE

Israel Withholds Palestinian Revenues, Creates Economic Crisis

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