’Israel’ Unveils More Economic Sanctions on PA

Local Editor

"Israeli" and Palestinian officials held fresh US-mediated talks Thursday, but the crisis-hit talks was dealt a new blow as "Israel" unveiled sanctions against the Palestinian Authority.

"Israel", which collects about $111 million in taxes on behalf of the Palestinian Authority - two-thirds of its revenues - has decided to freeze the transfer of that money.
"Israel" was also suspending its participation with the Palestinians in developing a gas field off the Gaza Strip and putting a cap on Palestinian deposits in its banks, the "Israeli" official said, asking not to be named.

However, the official said "discussions under the aegis of the United States to overcome the talks crisis will continue."
Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erakat lashed out at the move, calling it an act of ""Israeli" hijacking and the theft of the Palestinian people's money."

The decision is a "violation of international law and norms by "Israel"" in revenge for the Palestinians' move to join a raft of international treaties as a state, Erakat said.
Earlier, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed a new round of talks between the "Israeli", Palestinian Authority and US negotiators had been held Thursday. But she downplayed reports of a deal in the works.
"The gaps are narrowing, but any speculation about an agreement are premature at this time," said Psaki.

Washington remains in "intensive negotiations" with both sides, she told reporters.
"We're working, as you know, to determine what the path forward is for these negotiations, and that is up to the parties."
The talks hit a new impasse last week after "Israel" refused to release a final batch of Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinians retaliated by seeking accession to several international treaties.

US Secretary of State John Kerry blamed "Israel" this week for the deadlock as Washington mulled how much more time and effort to put into the faltering negotiations.

American envoy Martin Indyk presided over Thursday's meeting in Occupied al-Quds between "Israel's" chief negotiator, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and her Palestinian counterpart, Saeb Erakat, said a Palestinian source close to the talks.
Also present were Palestinian intelligence chief Majed Farah and Yitzhak Molcho, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

But insisting there was no deal yet, Psaki said "no decision has been made about Jonathan Pollard," who is eligible for release next year.
A Palestinian official also denied any deal was yet on the table, stated there was still a "deep chasm" between the two sides.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team