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as a PA employee he said he understands going to be severe. “Private sector reprerefused to accept the so-called tax-clearthat his government is protesting Israel’s insentatives have also announced plans to ance funds from Israel. Abbas said the PA tention to annex more territory in the West cut pay by 50 percent. The largest impact was also halting security cooperation beBank. “Think about the dilemma we live would be through a decision to stop the encause of Israeli plans to annex some, or all, in—since 2006, we go through hassles trance of more than 140,000 Palestinian of its West Bank settlements and the every single day—and it is all beyond our workers to Israel, as those workers and Jordan Valley. control,” he adds. their families account for a third of private For more than two decades, the Israeli Meanwhile, Fawzia Al Tahan said her consumption given their higher take-home government has deducted monies beyond late husband had a pension that she still pay,” according to an April 2020 World its 3 percent service fee for hospital and relies on to prepare their oldest daughter Bank report. electricity payments. The Israeli collection for getting married in September. Now she “Someone must feel the pain,” says Abu of funds on behalf of the Palestinian Aurealizes that wedding is out of question— Dyaa, warning, “if this is going to continue, thority came about as part of the 1994 Proand no one knows how long she will have one can never control a hungry nation.” Yet, tocol on Economic Relations. Such funds (Advertisement) to wait before the finantypically include taxes on cial issue is resolved. But imports to the PA-conshe knows the situation is trolled areas and income political and beyond her tax for Palestinians workcontrol. ing in Israel. Since 1997, Palestinian President Israel has withheld these Mahmoud Abbas said payments, as “punishthe PA will avoid any ment” and pressure, 13 more mutual undertimes. standings and end coorIn the West Bank and dination with Israel. In Gaza, revenues have M a y, A b b a s g a v e a also been hard hit as strongly worded speech commercial activities in Ramallah, denouncing decreased with the Israel’s planned annexadecline of salaries and the tion and threatening recoronavirus lockdown. taliation. T h e PA’ s d o m e s t i c Abbas’ plan is more income has been reduced firm than previous warnby 50 percent, according ings, setting out steps to to the Finance Ministry return the Occupied spokesperson, AbdulrahWest Bank to pre-Oslo man Byatneh. Playgrounds for Palestine is a project to build playgrounds for our days, if Israel goes Even prior to the curchildren. It is a minimal recognition of their right to childhood and ahead with its planned rent cut, over the last four creative expression. It is an act of love. annexation. And still, the years, Gaza-based PA Playgrounds for Palestine (PfP) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit widespread economic employees have been hit organization, established in 2001. We’re an all-volunteer organizahardship is felt more in hard, and only received tion (no paid staff) that raises money throughout the year to conGaza than in the West 50 to 70 percent of their struct playgrounds and fund programs for Bank. wages, which barely covchildren in Palestine. Abu Dyaa continues to ered their needs. go to the ATM every Although Israel reSelling Organic, Fair Trade Palestinian olive morning—even though leased 800 million oil is PfP’s principle source of fundraising. the result is always the shekels ($203 million) to is year, PfP launched AIDA, a private same—and he feels deep t h e PA t o d e a l w i t h label olive oil from Palestinian farmers. Please come by and taste it at our table. in his heart that, “the spirit COVID-19 in May, the of solidarity from the outWorld Bank says if the We hope you’ll love it and make it a staple in your pantry. side world seems to be COVID-19 outbreak is gone.” The situation renot controlled soon, its For more information or to make a donation visit: mains dire and “the coroimpact on economic achttps://playgroundsforpalestine.org • P.O. Box 559 • Yardley, PA 19067 navirus is not helping.” ■ tivity and livelihoods is AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020
WASHINGTON REPORT ON MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS
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