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Israeli Govt. Releases PA Tax Funds

A worker wearing a protective suit arrives to disinfect the Church of the Nativity as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
A worker wearing a protective suit arrives to disinfect the Church of the Nativity as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
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Israeli Govt. Releases PA Tax Funds

A worker wearing a protective suit arrives to disinfect the Church of the Nativity as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
A worker wearing a protective suit arrives to disinfect the Church of the Nativity as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

A Palestinian official said on Monday that Israel transferred 120 million shekels to the Palestinian Authority’s treasury.

The fund is a part of tax money collected by Israel on behalf of the PA on Israeli controlled commercial crossings.

Minister of the Palestinian Civil Affairs Authority Hussein Al-Sheikh confirmed that Israel transferred the amount as part of the tax revenues due to the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahaloun, approved on Sunday the funds’ transfer, based on assessments by Israeli security intelligence and military officials that the Palestinian Authority could face some serious financial crisis amid the coronavirus outbreak

Israeli security officials expressed concern that the worsening of the coronavirus crisis for the Palestinian Authority could exacerbate the crisis in Israel.

Close cooperation is ongoing between the Israeli Ministry of Health and the PA, and many decisions regarding the two sides are made in coordination and agreement.

Last Monday, Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara met his Israeli counterpart for this purpose. Beshara asked Kahaloun “to release all the sums withheld by the Israeli side since last year, as an absolute necessity under the current circumstances.”

The meeting was held mainly to discuss “the economic situation facing the two sides in light of the spread of the virus.”

Israel has helped train Palestinian doctors to tackle the virus, and sent medical supplies, while both parties continue to exchange information on the number of infected cases and their movement.

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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Wednesday that Türkiye had the power and ability to "crush" all terrorists in Syria, including ISIS and Kurdish militants, while urging all countries to "take their hands off" Syria.

Since last month's fall of Bashar al-Assad, Türkiye has said repeatedly it was time for the Kurdish YPG militia to disband. Ankara considers the group, which spearheads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist organization.

Ankara has said the new Syrian administration must be given an opportunity to address the YPG presence, but also threatened to mount a new cross-border operation against the militia based in northeast Syria if its demands are not met.

Speaking in parliament, Erdogan said the YPG was the biggest problem in Syria now, and added that the group would not be able to escape its inevitable end unless it lays down its arms.

"Regarding fabricated excuses like ISIS, these have no convincing side anymore," Erdogan said, referring to the US position that the YPG was a key partner against ISIS in Syria and that it plays a vital role guarding prison camps where the extremist militants are kept.

"If there is really a fear of the ISIS threat in Syria and the region, the biggest power that has the will and power to resolve this issue is Türkiye," he said.

"Everyone should take their hands off Syria and we, along with our Syrian siblings, will crush the heads of ISIS, the YPG and other terrorist organizations in a short time."

Türkiye has repeatedly asked its NATO ally the United States to halt support for the SDF, and has said the new administration in Syria had offered to take over the management of the prisons.