'Lieberman trying to cause PA to collapse'

MK Herzog says foreign minister opposed to transferring tax revenues to Palestinians in order to restore Israeli control.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Herzog 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Herzog 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is opposed to transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority as a means to bring the PA to collapse and restore Israeli control in Palestinian cities, MK Isaac Herzog (Labor) said in a Tuesday morning interview with Israel Radio.
Israel has been holding $100 million in tax revenues from the PA since its admission to UNESCO earlier this month.
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Additionally, Herzog called for Defense Minister Ehud Barak to resign if he fails to transfer the money in the coming days.
Also speaking with Israel Radio on Tuesday morning, MK Ronnie Bar-On ‎explained that there is no proof to support claims that tax revenues to the PA are used to fund terror. According to Bar-On, the Authority acts responsibily in security matters and it is ridiculous to penalize it for unilateral measures it is taking.
On Monday, Lieberman fiercely condemned Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s support for transferring tax money to the Palestinian Authority, but he said he would not remove his Israel Beiteinu party from the coalition in protest.
Lieberman spoke at a faction meeting of his party after Netanyahu’s associates hinted the transfer would take place soon. He criticized reporters who misinterpreted the opposition that he declared last week as an ultimatum.
“I’ve heard the infantile claims about the money belonging to the Palestinians, as if they can use the money to murder or incite to murder Israelis,” Lieberman said. “Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] meets the 1,000 terrorists that have been released or are about to be released and calls them ‘freedom fighters.’ He gives them $5,000 and more money for an apartment. He says the money is for their security force but it’s not true.”
Lieberman said he saw no change in the behavior of the PA that justified what he called “subsidizing terrorists,” especially when incitement against Israel in PA-sanctioned textbooks continues.