UN Receives Palestinian Letters on International Conventions, Israel to Withhold Palestinian Tax Fees

The UN says it has received 13 letters from Palestinian officials for accession to international conventions and treaties. Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said their accession to those treaties will come into force within 30 days. The Palestinians became eligible to sign on to the treaties after the UN General Assembly upgraded the Palestinians’ status at the UN in 2012 from “observer entity” to “non-member state.”

The Swiss Foreign Ministry said that it had received the Palestinian request to join the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Swiss added that Palestinian membership will become effective immediately.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government will stop transferring tax money to the Palestinians in retaliation for their recent drive for further UN recognition, an Israeli official said. The Palestinians owe Israeli companies hundreds of millions of dollars for electricity and other services. The Israeli official said Israel would deduct the Palestinian debt against its monthly transfer of tax money that it collects for the Palestinians. Israel transfers about $100 million a month to the Palestinians.

At the same time, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said that the Arab League has promised a “financial safety net” of $100 million per month in the event that the Palestinians suffer from economic sanctions following the collapse of talks.

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}