RAMALLAH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian officials on Thursday condemned the Israeli Knesset's initial approval of a bill to freeze more Palestinian clearance revenues, calling it an "organized crime" and "financial piracy."
Palestinian National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh condemned the move in a press statement, stressing that clearance funds are "purely Palestinian revenues, not a grant or gift from Israel."
Withholding the funds is "a blatant violation" of signed agreements and international humanitarian law, he said, urging the international community to compel Israel to release the funds.
Sabri Saidam, a member of the Palestinian Central Council, told the official Voice of Palestine radio that the Knesset's legislative approach is "a dangerous legal shift" that entrenches decisions and makes reversing them extremely difficult.
He said the real objective "is not merely seizing money, but rather eliminating the Palestinian Authority (PA) entirely."
On Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset passed the bill in its first reading, which would allow for freezing more PA tax revenues.
According to Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Israel is withholding about 14 billion shekels (4.6 billion U.S. dollars) of Palestinian treasury revenues from customs duties, known as clearance funds, collected on behalf of the PA.
Israel has claimed that the funds are "used to encourage and support terrorism," according to Haaretz.
These revenues account for about 68 percent of the PA's total income. ■
