Abbas refused to end ICC bid in return for frozen funds

[azurnoir]

Abbas said the Palestinians received an offer for Israel to release the PA's frozen tax funds if they backed out of their efforts at the ICC in The Hague, but that the offer was rebuffed.

"The international court in The Hague is the only place in which we can raise our complaints over the occupation. They told us that if we do not go to The Hague they will return our money. We refuse to trade our bid at The Hague for tax money," he said.

Abbas said the Palestinians would resume the negotiations with Israel if construction in the settlements is frozen and security detainees are released. He claimed Israel has not honored its commitments with the Palestinians. "We must examine how to maintain the PA and whether all parties commit to the agreements and not only one side."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4633492,00.html

[Scootaloo]

1. So...

Israel steals the tax revenues, then tried to blackmail Palestine, in order to keep Palestine from going to the ICC.

I guess there's a reason no one's ever heard of an Israeli mafia - they seem to really suck at it.l

[guillaumeb]

4. you owe Israel an apology

the Israelis are not "stealing" the tax revenue. They are simply holding on to it, like they have been holding on to Palestinian and Syrian land since 1967. They will give it back at the right time.

[shaayecanaan]

5. the whole point of a mafia

is that you're not supposed to hear about them.

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/06/world/fg-israel-mafia-la6

[Purveyor]

2. Good. To the Hague with them... eom

[Jefferson23]

3. Tells you how little confidence Israeli leaders have about their chances at the ICC.

HawksforIsrael, carry on and have a great day.

[android fan]

6. Very well, the noose tightens....

and does not bode well for someone who's in his 10th year of a 4 year term....

I thought that was a fair deal too.