WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department has criticized Israel's plan to withhold Palestinian tax revenue, as has Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Palestinian authorities.
The plan, announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, would freeze the movement of $127 million in tax payments to the Palestinian Authority. It is a response to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' submission of documents last week to have Palestine join the International Criminal Court (ICC); the intent is to sue Israel in court for alleged war crimes committed during the 50-day war in Gaza in 2014.