EU urges Israel to release Palestinian tax revenue dues

　　RAMALLAH, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The European Union is urgingIsrael to pay the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) the taxrevenue dues it has been withholding since early January, an EUofficial said Monday.

　　Shadi Othman, the EU media and communication official inJerusalem, told Xinhua over the phone that the EU position is thatIsrael should release the Palestinian tax revenue duesimmediately.

　　"The EU believes that it is not Israel's right to withhold thePalestinian cash and use it politically to put pressure on thePalestinians under any justifications," said Othman.

　　Israel withheld the Palestinian tax dues in January in responseto Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to join 20international agencies and treaties, including the Rome Statute ofthe International Criminal Court.

　　"There are ongoing contacts and debates between Israel and thePalestinian Authority over the consequences of withholding thePalestinian money," said Othman.

　　However, he added "there is no agreement to cash anymore moneyto the Palestinians, except what is agreed upon before. The EUapproved last year 213 million euros (about 243 U.S. milliondollars), including 130 million euros (about 148 million dollars)to aid the PNA budget."

　　The PNA has been facing a financial crisis since the beginningof this year after Israel withheld the tax revenue dues.Enditem