Ben Gvir blocks PA payments to prisoners’ canteen accounts

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is ordering the Israel Prison Service to stop processing Palestinian Authority payments to security prisoners’ canteen accounts.

According to Ben Gvir’s office, the PA transfers NIS 400 a month, per security prisoner, to a joint fund for the prison canteen. About 6,000 security prisoners are covered by the plan.

The PA has long been criticized for offering financial incentives to terrorists and their families.

Since assuming his post in December, Ben Gvir has instituted a string of measures to decrease security prisoners’ quality of life. This latest move comes amid a battle initiated by Finance Ministry Bezalel Smotrich to block Israel from transferring its next installment of collected funds to the PA.

Smotrich, who has long championed to dismantle the PA, said that he ordered the treasury to cancel the next payment because senior PA officials have been engaged in incitement against Israel. The US and other cabinet members have pressed to transfer the funds, deemed necessary for the PA’s stability.

In line with the Oslo Accords, Israel collects tax revenue on behalf of the PA.