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Israel hands Abbas frozen funds | Israel hands Abbas frozen funds |
(20 minutes later) | |
Israel has transferred to the Palestinians $100m (77.2m euros, £50.7m) of tax revenues withheld since Hamas won elections last year. | Israel has transferred to the Palestinians $100m (77.2m euros, £50.7m) of tax revenues withheld since Hamas won elections last year. |
The money has been paid directly to the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and not the Hamas-led government. | |
It represents a sixth of the total collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority since the election. | It represents a sixth of the total collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority since the election. |
The money comes from taxes on Palestinians working in Israel and other tariffs. | The money comes from taxes on Palestinians working in Israel and other tariffs. |
'Crippling effects' | |
Analysts say that the money is part of Israel's bid to strengthen moderate Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle with Hamas. | |
Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have been locked in conflict following Hamas's election victory which prompted an international aid boycott. | |
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Jerusalem says however the money is distributed, it is desperately needed. | |
The Palestinian government has been crippled in part by the lack of tax revenues but also because of a continuing international financial boycott. | |
The move comes just days after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held meetings with both the Palestinian and Israeli leaders. | |
She has said she plans to host a three-way summit with Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert early next month. |
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