Abu Rudeina: “Heroic prisoners’” rights and salaries “will not be harmed”

Headline: “Abu Rudeina: The Israeli decision to deduct the tax money is unacceptable and contradicts international law”

“Official [PA] Presidential Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina said that the Israeli government’s decision to deduct 600 million [Israeli] shekels (approximately $178 million -Ed.) from the tax money is unacceptable and constitutes piracy and theft of the Palestinian people’s money (refers to Israel’s Anti “Pay-for-Slay” Law to deduct PA terror salaries; see note below -Ed.).

He added that the Palestinian leadership, led by [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas, emphasizes its firm opposition to this dangerous decision, which will not achieve any result because the rights of our heroic prisoners will not be harmed, regardless of the pressures. He also said that we will not agree that one penny be deducted from the money of the Palestinian people’s heroes, who carried the flag of freedom for the sake of Jerusalem and establishing the independent Palestinian state.

Abu Rudeina emphasized that this decision is irresponsible and contradicts international law, and that the international community must exert pressure on the Israeli side to stop and cancel these provocative measures, because the decision is tantamount to a clear theft of the Palestinian people’s money. Abu Rudeina said: ‘What the Israeli government is currently required to do is to reexamine its positions and decisions, so that matters will not reach a dangerous dead-end.’”