PA Businessmen Owe Hundreds of Millions of Shekels to Israeli Industry
Full Text;
Arab businessmen from the Palestinian Authority owe Israeli factories and businesses hundreds of millions of shekels of unpaid bills, according to Yoram Bilizovsky, head of Israel’s Industrialists Union.
Bilizovsky make his statement ahead of a cabinet meeting that will discuss the issue of unpaid debts owed by PA Arabs to Israelis in the private sector.
Bilizovsky called on the government to offset the debts of PA Arabs against the hundreds of millions of shekels of import taxes Israel collects for the PA at its ports. Israel has been withholding the transfer of such monies to the PA in protest over the inauguration of the new Hamas government.
As of now, only gasoline suppliers, the phone company, and the electric company are entitled to offset their debts against money which Israel collects for the PA. Bilizovsky wants that policy to be extended to all Israeli firms which are owed money by PA Arabs and businesses.
Israel to Use Portion of PA Taxes to Pay Palestinian Utility Debts
Excerpt;
Israeli officials said Monday that a portion of the tax revenues being withheld from the Palestinian government will be released to pay PA debts to Israeli utility companies.
Commentary;
This author finds it very interesting that Haaretz saw fit to change the latter headline to “EU Freezes Aid to PA Gov’t; Red Cross Prepares to Boost Funds” and drop the above quote to the 5th paragraph.
Just why does Israel continue to collect “PA (sic)” taxes anyway? Do they intend to remit all monies to the PA at some point? If the Olmert Regime is serious about cutting ties with the “PA (sic), then they should cease collecting these monies and cut off all vital services and resources to them. Alternately, they should continue to collect these taxes in order to remit them to those Israeli businesses and agencies who are owed money. When the debts are completely paid off, “PA (sic)” Tax money should cease being collected. MB