Cairo, June 10 (Petra) – Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed Yamahi
condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a bill that expands
mechanisms for the seizure of Palestinian clearance funds, describing
the move as “organised financial piracy” and a flagrant violation of
international law and signed agreements.

On Wednesday, Yamahi said the measure reflects Israel’s continued
reliance on collective punishment against the Palestinian people and
its disregard for international legal obligations.

He said that the ongoing withholding and seizure of Palestinian funds
legally owed to the Palestinian Authority constitutes a direct
assault on the economic rights of the Palestinian people.

He added that the policy is a deliberate attempt to undermine the
Palestinian economy, weaken the institutions of the Palestinian
National Authority and limit their ability to fulfill basic
responsibilities toward citizens.

Yamahi emphasised that attempts to legalise the seizure of
Palestinian funds through legislation passed by the Knesset do not
grant legitimacy to what he described as unlawful practices.

He said the Israeli violations provide additional evidence of the
impunity enjoyed by the occupying power amid the international
community’s failure to adopt effective and binding measures to halt
its ongoing violations.

He called on the international community to assume its legal and
moral responsibilities and take concrete action to protect
Palestinian rights and ensure respect for international law and
existing agreements.

//Petra// AK