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Palestinian Authority gearing up for unrest amid financial crisis

Israel has approved the transfer of light armored military vehicles to the West Bank amid fears of the Palestinian Authority's economic collapse.
Members of Palestinian security forces disperse a Hamas demonstration in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma - RC1DDCF99CD0
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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel has approved the transfer of 10 US-made light armored military vehicles from Jordan to the Palestinian security services on the West Bank. Green-lighted on May 21, the move follows warnings by Israeli security forces to Israeli politicians in April and May of the pending economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the deterioration of security coordination between Israel and the PA due to the worsening financial situation on the West Bank. Both the PA and Israel are worried that Palestinians might take to the streets in protest over the current status quo and at a time when the Palestinian security services lack military vehicles and equipment to adequately respond to potential turmoil.

The simmering financial and economic crisis stems from decreasing foreign grants and the cessation of US aid to the Palestinians under the Donald Trump administration. In addition, the PA has been refusing to accept taxes collected on its behalf by Israel since Feb. 19, after Israel unilaterally decided to deduct a portion equivalent to funds earmarked for Palestinian prisoners accused of terrorism and the families of those killed while involved in activities against the occupation. The amount for 2018 totaled 502 million shekels ($138 million).

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