[I am sick and tired of Netanyahu not holding the line.]
By Herb Keinon, JPOST
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu decided on Tuesday evening to transfer to the Palestinian Authority some NIS 400 million Israel collected last month in tax revenue for the PA, but withheld in response to the Palestinian statehood upgrade move at the UN in November.
A source in Netanyahu’s bureau said the decision was for a one-time transfer and was due to the economic hardships facing the PA.
Netanyahu met on Monday in Jerusalem with Quartet envoy Tony Blair, where this issue was raised. The US has also raised the issue with Jerusalem.
Government sources rejected speculation that the move was a confidence-building measure toward the PA taken in the wake of the recent Israeli election to try and create a more positive atmosphere.
The sources also denied the move was related to the coalition-building steps and the likelihood that Yesh Atid, which has called for promoting talks with the Palestinians, is to be a key member of the new coalition.
Further transfers to the PA of the tax revenues would be evaluated on a month-bymonth basis, sources said.
Israel responded to the PA move at the United Nations General Assembly in November by announcing that it would withhold the transfer of funds, as well as build 3,000 housing units beyond the Green Line, and push forward development plans for E1 in Ma’aleh Adumim, east of Jerusalem.
Netanyahu’s decision rolls back an announcement former foreign minister Avigdor Liberman made on December 10 that Israel would not transfer a shekel of tax revenue to the PA for the next four months. Liberman said the PA owed Israel NIS 6 billion, which included NIS 900m. that the PA owed to Israel for electric and water bills, and NIS 700m. that was owed for funds advanced in the summer to pay PA salaries.
Shy Guy Said:
We all disagree with Netanyahu but let’s look at the upside: the Arabs will waste the money and they will blame the Jews for sinking further into debt. As long as the Arabs can’t wipe their own ass, an Arab state is the least of Israel’s worries.
My innocuous comment just posted is in moderation. Please release.
Yamit/Shyguy- accepting what you say of Netanyahu, have you personally tried to raise alarm bells with other Israelis, beyond spewing your bile on Israpundit?
Have you tried to write op-eds for media outlets like Herb Keinon?
If there are organizations in Israel that are working for more responsible government in terms of domestic and foreign policy, have you joined to lend your considerable knowledge and energy to that enterprise?
I am not raising these questions to debate you on your views re: Netanyahu. I just want to know whether your disgust for Netanyahu has motivated you to do more than just vent on Israpundit.
yamit82 Said:
What do you mean? You are against “lesser of 2 evils” and “devil you know” decisionmaking? So what are you for? “Let it burn”?
I have no doubts about Yechimovitch and Livni when it comes to the Pals. It would be straight over the cliff, Barak and Olmert style!
The magic word is “always”. BTW, this axiom of your is second guessing on its own. Think about it.
In any case, you talk about mobilizing unity against Netanyahu. Waiting….
…. and waiting……
…. and waiting……
…. and waiting……
I detect a fault in your strategy. YOU didn’t do the right thing and YOU didn’t consider the consequences. Read Rav Elitzur Segal’s letter (Hebrew) in the last Manhigut Yehudit political update. The math is there. Do you need Professor Aumann to add it up for you? Stupid, stupid Jews!
@ Shy Guy:
I never accepted best of the worst case option mentality.
Since the grrls you mentioned have no record of real decision making in top leadership positions we can only go by what they say not so much of what they have done.
BB is a known factor he has a record and we all if we are honest, knew exactly what we would be getting. With the others you could be right and then maybe not quite right? Since BB is going to do and is doing exactly what you claim the opposition would be doing but doing it through lies and subterfuge who then is preferable?
I would prefer to have the left do what BB is doing and planning to do and the right mobilizing in unity against, than have BB and the Likud do essentially the same thing but with no opposition either from the left or the right except a powerless small minority on the right protesting.
First do the right thing, then worry about the consequences. Intelligent second guessing does not always prove so intelligent.
yamit82 Said:
Yeh. Socially Yechimovich would have done otherwise. So, too, Tzippi LeavemeTelAvivAndItsWisemen.
/sarc
I’m jut sick of BB period.
He has already put E-1 in deep freeze along with most of his other populist pronouncements of building. If Tony Blair [the Vatican Trojan Horse] wants Israel to support our enemies they can start by having the Vatican pay their unpaid tax bills. I am tired of having to pay high electricity bills to in-order to support deadbeat palis. Israel is in overdraft of 40-50 billion shekels and having the Palis and the Vatican pay up would go some way in reducing our budgetary deficits.
The Israel Electric Company is a Billion dollars in debt and couldn’t raise in the last quarter enough from bond sales to cover it’s operating expenses and debt payments. The taxpayer is paying for it in high user rates. This also effects the profitability of our businesses,industries and costs of agriculture produce.
BB is an idiot weasel slime not to mention the weakest PM we have ever had. The stupid Jews who still voted Likud are deserving of him.
I don’t Blame Stanley Fisher for jumping a sinking ship.
The Israeli taxpayer does not understand what our government is doing with our money and most of the media is also shilling for the government and keeping much of the dirt under the carpet.