BICOM

In a direct response to the Palestinian Authority’s pursuit to receive recognition at the United Nations, the Israeli senior cabinet announced a series of measures. The measures include construction in settlements in the West Bank and a temporary suspension of the transfer of tax funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA). According to reports, additional steps are also being planned. At the next meeting of the forum of eight, ministers will discuss additional measures, such as revoking VIP cards from senior Palestinian Authority officials. Israel is also considering suspending its cooperation with UNESCO until further notice, and to suspend a number of joint projects under way in Israel. The announcement by the cabinet was made in response to the admission of the Palestinian Authority as a member of UNESCO.

The decision taken by the cabinet to accelerate construction deals with planned housing options that were only waiting final approval to be built. It includes 1,650 housing units in an East Jerusalem Jewish neighbourhood, 327 in two West Bank settlements, 277 in Efrat and 50 in Ma’aleh Adumim. A spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s Office said that that the 2,000 housing units would be built in areas that will remain under Israeli sovereignty in any future peace agreement.

The Israeli steps were taken in order to demonstrate to the international community and to the Palestinians the seriousness with which Israel views the Palestinian initiative at the UN, and for that reason the steps taken yesterday were largely symbolic. Moreover, it is unclear at this time when they will take effect.