The Palestinian Authority (PA) is going through a severe financial crisis, especially since Israel froze in December 2014 the transfer of tax funds, which amount to $130 million per month. However, surprisingly, the budget allocations to the security services in Palestine’s 2014 general budget amounted to 28%, or $1 billion out of $3.8 billion, according to a February 2015 Ministry of Finance report. In 2013, security expenses accounted for 19% the budget, and 31% and 32% in 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Although not available to the public, Al-Monitor was able to obtain figures from Palestinian official sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, reflecting the number of security personnel and their distribution among security services, as well as the security services’ financial expenses (wages, salaries and operating costs).

Vice President of the Legislative Council Hassan Khreisheh told Al-Monitor that he questions the veracity of the data published by the Ministry of Finance, since the numbers are inaccurate and represent an attempt to embellish the situation.

“The security-related expenditures are much higher, reaching 35% of the public budget,” he said. “The PA does not purchase tanks or planes, and the weapons held by security services are supplied by Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Arab and European countries. Yet these expenses confirm that the PA intends to militarize society to preserve its existence.”