Abbas set for tax funds from Israel

ISRAEL plans to turn over $100 million (€77.2m) in frozen tax funds to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by today, an Israeli official said yesterday.

The money is part of Israel’s strategy to boost the moderate Palestinian leader in his standoff with the Islamic militant group Hamas. The money will include funds for humanitarian assistance and to beef up Abbas’ Presidential Guard, which has clashed with Hamas gunmen in recent weeks.

Israel has frozen more than $500m (€386m) in taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians, seeking assurances the money doesn’t reach the Hamas-led government.