2 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The United States welcomed on Tuesday the Israeli government’s decision to extend the banking exemption that allows transactions with the Palestinian Authority and its commitment to release some of the funds withheld on the Palestinian side, although it stressed that this measure is not enough.
“We welcome reports that Israel will extend the waiver for four months and release a portion of the PA revenue, but our call is for Israel to extend the waiver for at least 12 months and release the remainder of the withheld revenue,” US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told a news conference.
He also recalled that “the expansion of settlements and outposts is incompatible with international law.” “Again, we believe that it only serves to weaken Israel’s security,” he said, adding that this step is also detrimental to “a two-state solution.”
This comes after Israeli media reported over the weekend that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is expected to approve a series of measures to unfreeze the funds and extend the exemption for Israeli banks working with the Palestinian Authority for four months.
The waiver, which was set to expire at the end of June, allows Israeli banks to process payments in shekels for services and salaries linked to the Palestinian Authority, although it leaves out a significant portion of funds for employees residing in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported.
However, as part of the deal, Smotrich would secure approval from the cabinet led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to legalize new outposts in the occupied West Bank and sanctions against senior Palestinian officials for supporting international legal proceedings against Israel.
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