UN chief urges Israel not to withhold funds from Palestinians

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday that Israel should not withhold tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority following its unity deal with Hamas.

"The Secretary-General ... noted that Palestinian unity is a process which is just beginning now, and thus, it would be best to assess it as it moves forward," the UN press office said in a statement summarizing Ban's telephone call with Netanyahu. "He also urged Israel not to stop transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority." (Reuters)