Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aggressive reaction to recent announcements from the Palestinian government regarding its relations with Hamas is acting as a double-edged sword for the Israeli government. The decision, although intended to protect Israel from Hamas, who seeks to destroy the Jewish state, violates current peace agreements, which require that, “Israel transfers about $1.2 billion to the Palestinian Authority each year, accounting for about two-thirds of its budget.”
Palestinian rival factions, Hamas and Fatah, proposed joining forces resulting in Israel’s refusal to pay the owed tax revenue to the Palestinian government. Withholding this tax remittance is presumptuous because the alliance between Fatah and Hamas has not been made official by the Palestinian cabinet. “Israel has started a war prior to the formation of the government.”
While the Israeli government fears that the money will be used to pay for terrorist operatives, “Palestinian leaders condemn the move as an act of 'piracy' and 'war.’” Holding on to the tax funds sets back the entire Palestinian government. Further, it has not been proven that Hamas will have access to the funds even if the factions unite. Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Stein said, “if the Palestinians can prove to us … that there is no joint funding between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas in Gaza, we are confident we will consider the matter.” Israel is weary of the distribution agreement. However, the regime change has not been made official, therefore withholding the funds is a disproportionate consequence.
The Israeli government is casting its net too wide. The fear of supporting the enemy has driven Israel to make a rash decision, which puts the Israeli government at odds with the entire Palestinian government, not just Hamas. “Former Israeli lawmaker Tzachi Hanebi warned that Netanyahu might be alienating Palestinian moderates.” Cutting off tax remittance from the tax remittance-led government is too severe. Any prospects of negotiations are grim now that the Israeli government has prematurely upset its neighbor.
"I would not advise walking away from all contacts with the moderate Palestinian leadership, because we do not have many alternatives." More civil options should be explored in lieu of destroying the moderating contract between the two countries. Until Hamas officially becomes a recipient of the tax remittance, steps need to be taken to ensure that Israel does not sever ties with the Palestinian government by inviting retaliation.
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