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January 16, 2015

U.N. Urges Israel to Unlock $127 Million in Taxes Owed to Palestinians 
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The United Nations is calling on Israel to unlock $127 million in taxes
owed to the Palestinian Authority that were withheld after the
Palestinians decided to join the International Criminal Court. A senior
U.N. official, Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen, told the Security Council
that the freeze was in violation of the Oslo agreements between Israel
and the Palestinians.

Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen: "We call on Israel to immediately resume
the transfer of tax revenue. … The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is now
entering uncharted territory, which, lamentably, seems to have dashed
any immediate hope for a return to peace talks."

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said his
government was undeterred by Israel's actions.

Riyad Mansour: "The focus must be on ending this illegitimate,
belligerent, colonial Israeli occupation in all its manifestations and
realizing the international consensus for a peaceful solution. We will
thus continue to reject all of the irrational arguments against our
peaceful, nonviolent, political, diplomatic and legal endeavors and will
continue on this path for justice and peace."

 

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