The Israeli Knesset approved on Monday the first reading of a bill to deduct welfare payments paid out by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to Palestinian prisoners and martyrs’ relatives.
The bill suggests to deduct the allowances from tax revenues Israel transfers annually to the PA.
Fifty-two Knesset members voted in favor of the private bill while another 10 MKs opposed the bill.
The bill would need another two readings to become law.
The PA gives monthly payments to all Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel and also to families of Palestinian martyrs who were killed by Israel.
Arab MK Youssef Jabarin considered the bill as part of Israeli collective punishment policy against Palestinian people.
The bill is meant to strengthen Israeli occupation and deny Palestinians their legitimate rights and resources he said.
