Abbas seeks to revise Paris Protocols

Palestinian presidents wants financial addendum to Oslo Accords reviewed and renegotiated, says Israel failing to meet its specifications

Elior Levy|Published: 09.25.11 , 01:35

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that the Palestinian Authority wants to open the 1994 Paris Protocols – the financial addendum to the Oslo Accords – for review.

Speaking to journalists on his plane back from the UN General Assembly in New York, Abbas said that parallel to the PA's fight to see its UN statehood bid mature, it will also seek to redefine its financial arrangements vis-à-vis Israel.

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"The (current) arrangement is unfair and has articles which are keeping the Palestinian economy from stabilizing," he said, adding that the agreement "prevents land development… We aim to become independent of external (financial) assistance."

Ramallah readies for Abbas' return (Photo: Reuters)

The 1994 Paris Protocols outline the legal and financial stipulations for the transfer of tax funds and levies, imposed mostly on goods transferred to the PA through Israel's various ports, which are collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.

Fatah Central Committee member Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh told Ynet that "Israel fails to adhere to parts of the agreement. The Protocols state that there shall be free movement of people and goods and Israel has neglected that."

Shtayyeh is an expert on Palestinian economy and serves as the managing director of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR). He is considered one of Abbas' closest advisors.

He further noted several problems regarding Israel's handling of the PA's tax revenue, but stressed that the motion to review the Paris Protocols has nothing to do with recent statements made by Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, suggesting Israel may withhold the PA's tax funds following Ramallah's unilateral statehood bid in the UN.

Shtayyeh stressed that the decision had nothing to do with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's threat to revoke the Oslo Accords: "I don't think that the demand to review the Paris Protocols will make the situation between the parties worse. It is natural for financial agreements to be reviewed and updated every once and a while… We haven't discussed the matter with Israel because there are no talks. These agreements are just not being implemented in full."