The Palestinian Authority announced on Tuesday that it would pay partial salaries to most of its employees after Israel transferred some tax money it collects for the purpose.
“The [Israeli] Finance Ministry is making enormous efforts to compel the occupation authorities to transfer our money so we can make salaries available,” Amjad Ghanim, Secretary-General of the Palestinian cabinet, told Reuters by phone from Ramallah.
The P.A. has not paid salaries since November, claiming that Israel is withholding tax revenue. This was coupled with a spike in food prices that led to street protests in Hebron.
It has also exempted wheat from taxes, and protesters are calling for them to be expanded to cover other foods.
Israel deducts the tax amount it transfers to the P.A. by the amount it gives to terrorists and their families, dubbed “pay for slay.”
According to Reuters, Israel collects around 900 million shekels (about $270 million) of Palestinian tax revenue per month.
