Israel to withhold nearly NIS 600 million from PA over terror payments

By Judah Ari Gross 11 July 2021, 5:39 pm

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Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.

Relatives of Palestinians held in Israeli jails hold their portraits during a protest to mark "Prisoners Day" in the West Bank city of Ramallah, April 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

The security cabinet has voted to withhold nearly NIS 600 million ($184 million) from the Palestinian Authority to offset funds that it paid to terrorists and their families in the past year, the Prime Minister’s Office says.

According to a report prepared by the Defense Ministry, the PA transferred NIS 597 million ($182.82 million) in “indirect support for terror in 2020,” the PMO says.

“In light of this report, these funds will be frozen from the monthly payments that Israel transfers to the PA,” according to the PMO.