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Israel freezes Palestine tax fund after ICC bid Israel freezes Palestine tax funds over ICC bid
(35 minutes later)
Israel has halted the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinians following their bid to join the International Criminal Court, Israeli officials say.Israel has halted the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinians following their bid to join the International Criminal Court, Israeli officials say.
They said $127m (106m euros) collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in December would be withheld. They said $127m (£82m; €106m) collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority last month would be held back.
The Palestinians submitted documents to join the ICC on Friday, a move that is opposed by both Israel and the US. The Palestinians submitted documents to join the ICC on Friday in a move opposed by both Israel and the US.
Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat condemned the Israeli measure, calling it a "new war crime".Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat condemned the Israeli measure, calling it a "new war crime".
It is not the first time that Israel has frozen the monthly transfer of tax to the Palestinians.It is not the first time that Israel has frozen the monthly transfer of tax to the Palestinians.
It imposed a similar sanction in April 2014 after PA President Mahmoud Abbas applied to join a series of international treaties and conventions.It imposed a similar sanction in April 2014 after PA President Mahmoud Abbas applied to join a series of international treaties and conventions.
'Ammnunition' 'Ammunition'
Joining the ICC could see Palestinians pursue Israel on war-crime charges.Joining the ICC could see Palestinians pursue Israel on war-crime charges.
An unnamed Israeli official who announced the new freeze on Saturday said Israel would defend itself against any Palestinian claims in the "international arena". An unnamed Israeli official who announced the new freeze said Israel would defend itself against any Palestinian claims in the "international arena".
He told Haaretz newspaper that "when it comes to war crimes, we have quite a bit of ammunition".He told Haaretz newspaper that "when it comes to war crimes, we have quite a bit of ammunition".
"It is the Palestinian Authority - which is in a unity government with Hamas, an avowed terrorist organisation that, like ISIS [Islamic State], perpetrates war crimes - that needs to be concerned about the International Criminal Court in the Hague," he said. "It is the Palestinian Authority - which is in a unity government with Hamas, an avowed terrorist organisation that, like ISIS [Islamic State], perpetrates war crimes - that needs to be concerned about the [ICC]," he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Abbas signed the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding treaty.On Wednesday, Mr Abbas signed the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding treaty.
Under the terms of the statute, it will take about 60 days for the Palestinians to join the ICC after they filed the documents. Under the terms of the statute, it will take about 60 days for the Palestinians to join the ICC after they file the documents.
Both the US and Israel oppose the move. Neither country is a member of the ICC. Neither Israel nor the US is a member of the ICC.
The Palestinians' chances of joining were improved in 2012 after the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade their status to that of a "non-member observer state".The Palestinians' chances of joining were improved in 2012 after the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade their status to that of a "non-member observer state".
ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has previously said that the upgrade means Palestine now qualifies to join the Rome Statute. ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has previously said the upgrade means Palestine now qualifies to join the Rome Statute.
Based in The Hague, the ICC can prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed since 1 July 2002, when the Rome Statute came into force.Based in The Hague, the ICC can prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed since 1 July 2002, when the Rome Statute came into force.