RAMALLAH, July 3, 2018 (WAFA) – The Palestinian leadership is considering scaling down its political, economic and security relations with Israel and make it responsible for the occupied territories if it seizes funds from the tax revenues its collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, said Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official, on Tuesday.

He told diplomats from Russia, China and Germany he met separately at his office that the seizure of Palestinian money is considered theft, piracy and a blatant violation of signed agreements and international law.

He said the Palestinian leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas will not accept this decision and will not allow its implementation.

Erekat, who is secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said the leadership is also considering joining a number of specialized international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and others.

M.K.