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Israel Transfers Some Frozen Tax Funds to Palestinians
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=15DBF73:A6F02AD83191E160465AAABDEE0D135A9574F7DCC14957C0 $100 million
handed over, will go toward President Abbas' security force





Mahmoud Abbas (file photo)Israel has transferred $100 million in
frozen Palestinian tax funds to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israeli officials said the money handed over Friday will go toward Mr.
Abbas' security force. Media reports say the funds are also designated
for humanitarian efforts.

Israel collects the taxes on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. But
it suspended money transfers after Hamas was elected to power in the
Palestinian territories a year ago. The Islamic militant group refuses
to recognize Israel and renounce violence.

Meanwhile, Israeli media are reporting that Defense Minister Amir
Peretz has ordered an indefinite freeze on plans for a new settlement
in the occupied West Bank.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the reports.

Last month, Israel faced strong international criticism when it
announced new settlement construction to house Jewish settlers
evacuated from the Gaza Strip, when Israel pulled out of the territory
in 2005.

In other news, a Palestinian lawmaker says President Abbas of Fatah
will meet on Saturday in Damascus with the political chief of Hamas,
Khaled Mashaal, in a bid to agree on a unity government. Mashaal lives
in Syria.

Months of talks between Fatah and Hamas have failed to produce a unity
government. Last month, tensions between the groups erupted into
deadly street battles in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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