ISRAEL MUST STOP WITHHOLDING PALESTINIAN MONEY

PALESTINE IS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE

by Luisa Morgantini

Member of the European Parliament and President of Development Committee
and Women in Black - Italy - Italian Peace Association

"Palestine is on the brink of financial collapse. We cannot pretend
that we don’t see. While the media continue to talk about Israel
“blocking” funds meant for the PNA, the truth is that what we’re
looking at is theft. The money that the Israeli government has
blocked, as a punishment for the victory of Hamas in the recent
elections - elections that were held in a climate of democracy and
legality, attested by the European and international observers- are
the monthly fiscal returns which by right and in accordance with the
Olso accords and the Paris Economic Protocol (1994) are the legitmate
property of the PNA.

The international envoy James Wolfensohn has also raised the alarm.
The ex-director of the World Bank warned the Quartet of international
mediators (Russian, USA, UN, and EU) that the finances of the PNA are
at risk of collapse within the next 2 weeks: In February, a hole
representing 100 million dollars opened in the Palestinian finances,
due to the Israeli decision to suspend the transfer of funds
resulting from customs duties to the ANP. These funds are collected
by the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Palestinian
administration, with the undertaking to pay the money to the PNA on
the first day of each month.
According to Wolfensohn, by next week the PNA will need a sum between
60 and 80 million dollars to be in a position to pay the February
salaries of the 140 thousand palestinian public employees. If they
are not in a position to do so, the tension among the population
could rise even higher.

For its part, the European Union has sent a clear, though limited,
signal to the PNA, the international community, and Israel with the
announcement of a a package of 120 million Euro to meet the primary
needs of the Palestinians - a gesture that is seen as positive even
by representatives of Hamas.
Now it wouldn’t just be “politically important” - as stated by the EU
commissioner for external relations, Beinta Ferrero Waldner - for
Israel to unblock the transfer of customs income to the Palestinians,
it would be, about all, a first step towards the respect for the
international law repeatedly violated by Israel with its policy of
occupation and with the building of the wall.

That money belongs by right to the Palestinian National Authority and
the fact that it is collected at the ports of entry by Israel,
retaining moreover a percentage of the of income to finance to
operation, is evidence of the state of occupation of Palestine and of
the policies of collective punishment practised by the Israeli
government.

The unilateralist policies of Israel are a danger to the stability of
the entire area and to the prospects of peace. The closure of the
Karni check point clearly demonstrates this. The check point is the
arterial route for commercial goods entering and leaving the Gaza
strip and its closure has caused losses of 10.5 million dollars in 3
weeks to the already weakened Palestinian finances, as weel as
accelerating the stategy of division of the Palestinian and Israeli
road system within the West Bank.

The European Union cannot yield to the blackmail of the Israeli
government. So far Hamas has shown itself willing to stay within the
democratic game and to not carry out any attacks. Not so, the Israeli
government, which every day continues to kill Palestinian civilians.

Opposing the isolation of Palestine, taking action to ensure that
Hamas continues its ceasefire and, as requested by President
Mahomoud Abbas, accepts the undertaking made by the Palestinian
Authority, and at the same time, putting pressure on Israel to
return to the negotiating table and to stop the annexation of
Palestinian territory. That is the only possible road to take if the
European Union really believes in a just and sustainable peace in
Palestine and Israel. ".

Translated by Jane Reynolds - Women in Black - Rome

info: Luisa Morgantini office 0032.2.2847151 - Bruxelles