P F Tinmore
Diamond Member
- Dec 6, 2009
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A United Nations official deeply involved in Middle East peacemaking warned in an interview this week that Israels decision to withhold funds from President Mahmoud Abbas government could end up toppling the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, with potentially severe consequences for not just the Palestinians but also Israel.
Robert Serry, the U.N. Secretary-Generals envoy in the region, also said Israel needs to take seriously the possibility that Abbas might dismantle the Palestinian Authority on his own initiative, leaving Israel on the hook for the day-to-day needs of more than three million Palestinians in the West Bank.
Serry spoke to The Daily Beast after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government suspended the transfer of millions in tax revenue Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, funds the Palestinians use to pay the salaries of policemen, security officers and other civil servants.
It is very difficult to see how the Palestinian Authority can financially survive in a situation where for any protracted period the transfers can really be cut off. That will indeed very soon have dire financial consequences, Serry said in the interview.
He said Israel should be particularly concerned about salaries being withheld from officials involved in security coordination with the Jewish state, a collaboration that has helped prevent suicide bombings and other cross-border attacks.
Think about all those security people who are the backbone of the achievements, Serry said. If these people cant be paid what consequences can that have on their morale in terms of the very difficult and sensitive job they are doing?
Israel
Robert Serry, the U.N. Secretary-Generals envoy in the region, also said Israel needs to take seriously the possibility that Abbas might dismantle the Palestinian Authority on his own initiative, leaving Israel on the hook for the day-to-day needs of more than three million Palestinians in the West Bank.
Serry spoke to The Daily Beast after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government suspended the transfer of millions in tax revenue Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, funds the Palestinians use to pay the salaries of policemen, security officers and other civil servants.
It is very difficult to see how the Palestinian Authority can financially survive in a situation where for any protracted period the transfers can really be cut off. That will indeed very soon have dire financial consequences, Serry said in the interview.
He said Israel should be particularly concerned about salaries being withheld from officials involved in security coordination with the Jewish state, a collaboration that has helped prevent suicide bombings and other cross-border attacks.
Think about all those security people who are the backbone of the achievements, Serry said. If these people cant be paid what consequences can that have on their morale in terms of the very difficult and sensitive job they are doing?
Israel