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Abbas Asks Russia's Help over Terror Payments Crisis
(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - The Palestinian Authority has demanded that Russia resolve the terror-payment crisis as it rejected an EU compromise solution. To protest Israel's withholding of taxes equal to the sum of money that the PA uses to pay terrorists and their families, the PA has refused to accept any of its tax revenues, a move which many believe could lead to its financial collapse. According to the UN, tax revenues make up 65% of the PA budget. The PA rejected an EU proposal that would place the prisoners on the social welfare roll, where money would be provided on a needs-based system. The PA insisted that the prisoners be paid on the basis of "merit" [according to the severity of the terror act]. Although the EU often sees eye-to-eye with the Palestinians, it took a strong stand against the terror payments. EU Commissioner for the European Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said: "We do not support the system of Palestinian payments to prisoners and martyrs." On Thursday, PA President Mahmoud Abbas met with the head of the Russian Representative Office in Ramallah, Aganin Rashidovich, and demanded that Russia intervene with Israel to halt the deductions.