Smotrich Seizes 139M NIS Of Palestinian Tax Revenue, Transfers To Terror Victims, ‘Terror Deterrent’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed a decree Sunday to forfeit the transfer of NIS 139 million ($39.6 million) in tax revenue to the Palestinian Authority and redirect it to families of terror victims, as part of punitive measures taken by the new Israeli government over the PA’s international legal action against Israel.

During a press conference, Smotrich was asked whether he was concerned that the move could bring about the collapse of the PA, answering: “As long as the Palestinian Authority encourages terror and is an enemy, I have no interest for it to continue to exist.”

The transfer of the money to the families of the victims from Israel’s Second Intifada follows a Jerusalem District Court ruling from June, which awarded them damages totaling around 130 million shekels.

Smotrich dismissed possible international condemnation of the initiative, stating that “This is a trivial and obvious matter. Opposition to the fact that the authority pays salaries to the families of terrorists is completely accepted by the international community.” He added that the PA continues to make regular payments to families of terror convicts and dead terrorists and therefore seizing the tax funds is a “just struggle…not only in providing retroactive justice, but also as a deterrent.”

The basis for the tax seizure is 2018 legislation allowing such practices, but previously it had not been frequently implemented as Israel was concerned it would lead to the PA’s collapse.

Smotrich told reporters on Sunday that as long as the PA “operates according to agreements, takes care of civilian life and thwarts terror activities in cooperation with Israel’s security establishment, then, of course, it is possible to have relations with the authority.

“This is on the condition that the authority does not resort to terror,” he added.

Abie Moses, the head of the national Victims of Terrorism organization, praised the “important decision,” but added it was only a first step among several demands by those hurt in attacks.

“The inauguration of a new Knesset is an opportunity to atone for the long-standing neglect of the victims of enemy hostilities, and to allocate the necessary resources in order to take care of the rights of thousands who lost their loved ones, who are struggling to survive and trying to continue to live,” he said.

Attorney Avi Segal of Israeli legal advocacy group Shurat HaDin thanked Smotrich and the government for the decision, adding “there is empirical research” that cutting off funds was crucial to preventing terror.

Ron Alon, a relative of terror victims killed in a 2002 Jerusalem attack, called the move “a historic day,” echoing Smotrich’s words about both doing justice for terror victims and potentially deterring future would-be-terrorists.