RAMALLAH, Monday, March 16, 2020 (WAFA) - Finance Minister Shukri Bishara today demanded in a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Moshe Kahlon the release of all Palestinian revenues withheld by Israel since last year in light of the current difficult situation resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Bishara met with Kahlon to discuss the economic impact both sides have to deal with as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, according to a statement by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance.

He stressed that the withheld revenues are a right for the Palestinian people and that they will help the Palestinian treasury adopt the best health measures to fight the coronavirus disease.

Israel last year withheld millions of dollars from the Palestinian tax revenues claiming it was seizing the amount equivalent to what the Palestinian Authority pays families of Palestinians killed or detained by Israel while resisting its occupation.

M.K.