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Middle East

Israel freezes tax funds for Palestinians, threatens tougher steps over ICC bid

Associated Press
Published | Updated
11422b40-Mideast Israel Palestinians

Jan. 4, 2015: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, Pool)

JERUSALEM – Israeli leaders on Sunday threatened to take tougher action against the Palestinians over their decision to join the International Criminal Court, a day after freezing the transfer of more than $100 million in tax funds.

Last week's Palestinian decision to seek membership in the international court has infuriated Israel. The Palestinians have said they intend on using their new membership in the Hague-based tribunal to press war crimes cases against Israel.

"The Palestinian Authority has chosen confrontation with Israel and we will not sit idly by," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet. He said Israel would not allow its soldiers to be "hauled" before the court.

In an initial response over the weekend, Israel said it had frozen tax funds collected for the Palestinians. The monthly transfers are a key source of revenue for the cash-strapped Palestinian government.

Netanyahu's government minister for strategic affairs, Yuval Steinitz, said Israel could take even tougher action.

"If the Palestinian Authority continues to attack us, I assume we will consider other steps," he said, without elaborating.

The Palestinians sought membership in the international tribunal after the U.N. Security Council voted down a resolution setting a three-year deadline for the establishment of a Palestinian state on lands occupied by Israel. On Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said officials were considering going back to the council.

"We might go again and again and again," he said. "We will never get bored until we gain the recognition — and in the end they will recognize us."

Also Sunday, Israel's Shin Bet security service said it arrested a Palestinian militant cell that drew inspiration from the Islamic State extremist group. It said the cell was based in the West Bank city of Hebron and plotted shooting and bombing attacks. The cell had no formal ties to Islamic State.

Meanwhile, Israel's Supreme Court rejected an Israeli military plan to extend its West Bank separation barrier through a Palestinian village near Jerusalem. Residents in Battir had argued the structure would destroy ancient farming terraces. In June, the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO designated Battir a World Heritage site.