By David Singer, Canada Free Press—
Israel’s decision to withhold US$138 million dollars in tax revenues collected for the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) – equalling the estimated annual payments made to Palestinian Arabs (or their families) carrying out random and indiscriminate attacks against Israeli civilians—marks a watershed in Israel-PLO relations.
Israel’s action will see the PLO being finally jettisoned as a possible negotiating partner on President Trump’s long-delayed peace plan—deferred yet again until after the Israeli elections in April.
Taylor Force Act
The release of the Trump plan could now be further postponed as the President continues his so far unsuccessful search to find other Arab negotiators willing to replace the PLO—which had already rejected having anything to do with Trump’s plan well before Israel’s latest decision.
The law authorising the freezing of these PLO funds was passed by the Israeli parliament in July 2018—three months after similar legislation – the Taylor Force Act – passed by the US Congress – was signed into law by President Trump.
Israel’s Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked stressed the funds withheld would be used to pay “fat salaries to murderers who are in prison”. They would also be used to pay Palestinian Arabs imprisoned in Israeli jails for lesser crimes.
Israel’s action follows the discovery of the body of 19-year-old Ori Ansbacher in the Jerusalem Forest on February 7. Channel 12 news reported that investigators from the Shin Bet security service and Israel Police hoped to indict Arafat Irfaiya, a 29-year-old Hebron resident, for murder in the context of a terrorist act in addition to a charge of rape.
Israel is clearly not prepared to allow this continuing wave of terror to be condoned and rewarded financially by the PLO.
