Region | Palestinian Territories
Israel releases funds to Abbas
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was given approval on Sunday to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen tax funds to Mahmoud Abbas' emergency government.
- Agencies
- Published: 13:37 June 24, 2007
Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was given approval on Sunday to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen tax funds to Mahmoud Abbas' emergency government.
The money, Palestinian tax revenues withheld by Israel since Hamas came to power in a 2006 election, is part of an initial package of benefits to bolster Abbas that Olmert presented to the Fatah leader at a summit in Egypt on Monday, in a step designed to undercut Hamas Islamists controlling Gaza.
Officials said Israel would also consider easing travel sanctions for Palestinians in the West Bank, where Fatah holds favour.
Israeli officials say up to $400 million in taxes that Israel has collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority under interim peace deals would be transferred to the emergency government in stages.
Israel plans to cut off all but humanitarian and basic supplies to Gaza and is seeking assurances that tax revenues do not reach Hamas, which has rejected Western demands to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
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