Israeli PM orders money transfer to suffering Palestinian Authority

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided on Tuesday night to transfer NIS (New Israeli Sheqel) 250 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA), in light of protests in the West Bank and the difficult economic situation there, it was reported here. In radio statements, Netanyahu said the transfer is intended to enable the PA to pay salaries of government staff, who have not received full salaries since June. (USD 1 = INS 9.3) Netanyahu announced that he had ordered the tax money it collects for the Palestinians to be paid in advance. The money in question is 50 percent of the total amount Israel collects from Palestinians at checkpoints each month for the PA under an agreement between the sides In accordance with interim peace deals, Israel collects millions of dollars in customs, border and some income taxes each month on behalf of the Palestinians and relays them to the West Bank government. Netanyahu had met with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz on Tuesday evening to discuss how Israel could help the PA overcome the financial woes, which are threatening its stability.