BREAKING NEWS

Blair: Only those opposed to peace benefit from PA tax hold

Quartet representative Tony Blair Wednesday called on Israel to resume the transfer of taxes to the Palestinian Authority "without delay," saying that only those who oppose peace benefit from the freeze on funds. Earlier Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also urged Jerusalem to release the hold it implemented after UNESCO accepted the Palestinians as a full member.
"I continue to call on the Israeli government to release the clearance revenues it is withholding from the Palestinian Authority without delay and resume their transfer on a regular basis," Blair said in a statement.
"The funds are vital for the functioning of the PA and Israel's withholding of these Palestinian funds threatens the salaries of some 180,000 employees, including Palestinian security officials who are working to provide security in the West Bank," the Quartet representative added.
"Only those who oppose peace," Blair added, benefit from withholding the funds from the PA.