Economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority
Encyclopedia
The 2006–2007 economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority were economic sanctions
imposed by Israel
and the Quartet on the Middle East
against the Palestinian National Authority
and the Palestinian territories
following the January 2006 legislative elections
that brought Hamas
to power.
The international sanctions were terminated in June 2007 following the Battle of Gaza
, while at the same time a new and more severe blockade was initiated by Israel against Gaza.
s collected in the Palestinian territories
by Israel, (2) cutoff of international aid to the Palestinian National Authority
from the Quartet countries
, (3) restrictions by Israel of movement within the Palestinian territories
and of goods moving in and out, and (4) U.S. banking
restrictions.
Israel and the Quartet said that sanctions would be lifted only when the Palestinian government has met the following demands:
in June 2007, Israel and the Quartet countries eased some of the sanctions on the West Bank, in order to support the Fatah
government, while at the same time tightening the blockade of the Gaza Strip, in order to put pressure on the Hamas administration.
said that the U.S. was planning to lift the ban on direct aid to the emergency government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
. Similarly, the Quartet voiced support for Abbas and concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, though they did not announce any change in the ban on direct aid. Some Israeli officials said $300 to $400 million in Palestinian tax revenues may be returned to the Palestinian National Authority, short of the $700 million Abbas was seeking. Indeed, on June 25, 2007, Israel agreed to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues it had seized to the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas
in order to support the Fatah government.
Economic sanctions
Economic sanctions are domestic penalties applied by one country on another for a variety of reasons. Economic sanctions include, but are not limited to, tariffs, trade barriers, import duties, and import or export quotas...
imposed by Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and the Quartet on the Middle East
Quartet on the Middle East
The Quartet on the Middle East, sometimes called the Diplomatic Quartet or Madrid Quartet or simply the Quartet, is a foursome of nations and international and supranational entities involved in mediating the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Quartet are the United Nations, the...
against the Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
and the Palestinian territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
following the January 2006 legislative elections
Palestinian legislative election, 2006
On January 25, 2006, elections were held for the Palestinian Legislative Council , the legislature of the Palestinian National Authority . Notwithstanding the 2005 municipal elections and the January 9, 2005 presidential election, this was the first election to the PLC since 1996; subsequent...
that brought Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
to power.
The international sanctions were terminated in June 2007 following the Battle of Gaza
Battle of Gaza (2007)
The Battle of Gaza was a military conflict between Hamas and Fatah that took place between June 7 and 15, 2007 in the Gaza Strip. After winning Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, Hamas and Fatah formed the Palestinan authority national unity government in 2007, headed by Ismail Haniya. In...
, while at the same time a new and more severe blockade was initiated by Israel against Gaza.
Sanctions program
The sanctions consist of (1) withholding of tax revenueTax revenue
Tax revenue is the income that is gained by governments through taxation.Just as there are different types of tax, the form in which tax revenue is collected also differs; furthermore, the agency that collects the tax may not be part of central government, but may be an alternative third-party...
s collected in the Palestinian territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
by Israel, (2) cutoff of international aid to the Palestinian National Authority
International aid to Palestinians
International aid has played a major role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as it has been used as a means to keep the peace process going. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip receive one of the highest levels of aid in the world...
from the Quartet countries
Quartet on the Middle East
The Quartet on the Middle East, sometimes called the Diplomatic Quartet or Madrid Quartet or simply the Quartet, is a foursome of nations and international and supranational entities involved in mediating the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Quartet are the United Nations, the...
, (3) restrictions by Israel of movement within the Palestinian territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
and of goods moving in and out, and (4) U.S. banking
Bank regulation
Bank regulations are a form of government regulation which subject banks to certain requirements, restrictions and guidelines. This regulatory structure creates transparency between banking institutions and the individuals and corporations with whom they conduct business, among other things...
restrictions.
Israel and the Quartet said that sanctions would be lifted only when the Palestinian government has met the following demands:
- Renunciation of violence,
- Recognition of Israel by the HamasHamasHamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
government (as the PLO had doneIsrael-Palestine Liberation Organization letters of recognitionIsrael-Palestine Liberation Organization letters of recognition were a series of official letters of recognition between the government of Israel and its Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the Palestine Liberation Organization's Chairman Yasser Arafat dated September 9, 1993...
), and - Acceptance of previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority.
Easing of West Bank sanctions
Following the Hamas takeover of the Gaza StripBattle of Gaza (2007)
The Battle of Gaza was a military conflict between Hamas and Fatah that took place between June 7 and 15, 2007 in the Gaza Strip. After winning Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, Hamas and Fatah formed the Palestinan authority national unity government in 2007, headed by Ismail Haniya. In...
in June 2007, Israel and the Quartet countries eased some of the sanctions on the West Bank, in order to support the Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
government, while at the same time tightening the blockade of the Gaza Strip, in order to put pressure on the Hamas administration.
Blockade of the Gaza Strip
On June 16, 2007, United States Consul-General Jacob WallesJacob Walles
Jacob Walles is a U.S. diplomat who spent much of his career addressing the Arab-Israeli Conflict. In 2009, he became the Cyrus Vance fellow for diplomatic studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. In June 2010, he became Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs.His most recent...
said that the U.S. was planning to lift the ban on direct aid to the emergency government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
. Similarly, the Quartet voiced support for Abbas and concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, though they did not announce any change in the ban on direct aid. Some Israeli officials said $300 to $400 million in Palestinian tax revenues may be returned to the Palestinian National Authority, short of the $700 million Abbas was seeking. Indeed, on June 25, 2007, Israel agreed to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues it had seized to the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
in order to support the Fatah government.