RAMALLAH, May 3, 2011 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Salam Fayyad Tuesday told members of the European diplomatic corps in Ramallah that Israel should release the money it had decided to withhold for the Palestinian Authority to be able to function normally.
He urged them to pressure Israel to release over $100 million of monthly revenues Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians.
Israel withheld the money in punishment for the PA’s reconciliation agreement with Hamas.
Fayyad said he hopes international pressure would force Israel to release the money for the PA to be able to meet its financial obligations on time.
He said the international community should also make sure that Israel would not repeat this measure in the future, stressing that “this money is Palestinian money and it is not a grant or charity from Israel.”
He said the Palestinian people will not be ready to trade the unity of their country for any price.
M.A.
