'Israel' to seize PA revenues over its recourse to UN

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Jan 2023 00:27
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The decision comes in the first security cabinet meeting of the new far-right government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli occupation PM Benjamin Netanyahu presides over a weekly cabinet meeting, on Jan. 3, 2023 (EPA)

The Israeli occupation government announced on Friday that it will withhold some Palestinian Authority (PA) revenues in response to its move to seek consequences from the United Nations for the Israeli occupation.

The decision was taken at the first security cabinet meeting of the new government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which is regarded as the most Israeli right-wing cabinet.

Netanyahu's office claimed that the cabinet was acting in "response to the Palestinian Authority's decision to wage political and legal war" against "Israel".

Last week, at the PA's request, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice to consider consequences for "Israel" over its occupation of Palestinian territories, a day after the Netanyahu government took office.

The General Assembly voted 87-26 with 53 abstentions on the resolution. The ICJ is the highest UN court dealing with international issues. Its decisions are binding, but it has no authority to enforce them.

Commenting on the United Nations General Assembly resolution, Netanyahu said on Sunday that "Israel" was not bound by what he called the "despicable decision".

"The current government will not sit idly by in the face of this war and will respond as necessary," Netanyahu's office said.

On its part, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry considered that the Israeli occupation's reprisals were a "reflection of the Netanyahu government's racist colonial platform against our people" and "a flagrant violation of Israel's obligations as an occupying power."

The Ministry stressed that the Israeli reprisals would "not discourage our people and our leadership from continuing the struggle... to provide international protection for our people and to put an end to Israel's continued impunity."

On its part, the Hamas movement condemned the "punitive measures" and called on the Palestinian Authority "not to give in" to Israeli pressure.

It is noteworthy that the UNGA had voted on December 16 by an overwhelming majority on a resolution supporting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

This comes a few days after Israeli occupation Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, protected by a large number of Israeli occupation forces, causing worldwide condemnation and threatening another Intifada.