Netanyahu government unveils sanctions against Palestinian Authority, after PA wins UN backing for International Court of Justice probe.
By David Rosenberg, INN Jan 6, 2023,
Cabinet meetingKobi Gideon/GPO
The Israeli government has prepared a set of sanctions targeting the Palestinian Authority, after the PA successfully lobbied the United Nations General Assembly to back an International Court of Justice case against Israel.
Last Saturday, the UN General Assembly voted 87 to 26 to back a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice in The Hague to rule on the legality of Israel’s presence in Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem.
On Thursday, in response to the PA-backed resolution, the new Israeli cabinet convened to weigh Israel’s response against the Palestinian Authority over the ICJ resolution.
The Prime Minister’s Office on Friday revealed the details of the sanctions package, which will include a freeze on all Palestinian Arab construction in Area C of Judea and Samaria – including a crackdown on illegal construction – and the seizing of 139 million shekels ($39 million) of tax funds collected by Israel from PA workers on behalf of the PA. The money will be transferred to a fund for Israeli victims of Palestinian Arab terrorists.
“The current government will not sit idly by in the face of this war and will respond as necessary,” the Prime Minister’s Office said Friday afternoon.
“The Cabinet approved a number of steps to be taken vis-à-vis the PA in response to its appeal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week.”
The full list of sanctions includes:
1. Transferring approximately NIS 139 million from PA funds to victims of terrorism, implementing the Litvak verdict, which compensates the families of victims murdered in Palestinian terrorist attacks.
2. Immediately offsetting the payments made by the PA to terrorists and their families in 2022, according to the report of the defense establishment.
3. Placing a moratorium on Palestinian construction plans in Area C, following illegal take-over attempts by the PA, in opposition to international agreements.
4. Denying benefits to VIPs who are leading the political and legal war against Israel.
5. Action will be taken against organizations in Judea and Samaria that promote terrorist activity or any hostile activity, including political and legal action against Israel under the guise of humanitarian work.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir commented: “Our right-wing government has made its intentions clear. We made a decision in the cabinet to take immediate steps against the Palestinian Authority and its leaders. I hope and believe that more measures will be taken against those who support terrorism and try to put pressure on Israel.”
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen commented: “The Palestinian Authority is not interested in a solution, nor is it interested in a real improvement in the situation of the Palestinians. All they care about is harming Israel. The series of measures that Israel decided on are intended to make it clear – that Israel will exact a price for any attempt to harm Israel in the international arena.”
Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich commented: “As we demanded in the coalition agreement, we are putting an end to the Palestinian Authority’s celebration of terrorism, payments to terrorists and benefits they receive from us. Those who act against us will pay a heavy price for it. And this is just the beginning. Shabbat Shalom to the people of Israel!”
Finally, the p—y policies are over. May this be the beginning of a return to courageousness and blessings from HaShem, culminating in the incentivized relocation of the entirety of the former Jordanians back to Jordan , and the former Egyptians in Gaza in their entirety to their new home in Jordan.