Cairo, June 10 (Petra) – Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed Yamahi condemned the Israeli Knesset's approval of a bill that expands mechanisms for the seizure of Palestinian clearance funds, describing the move as "organised financial piracy" and a flagrant violation of international law and signed agreements.

On Wednesday, Yamahi said the measure reflects Israel's continued reliance on collective punishment against the Palestinian people and its disregard for international legal obligations.

He said that the ongoing withholding and seizure of Palestinian funds legally owed to the Palestinian Authority constitutes a direct assault on the economic rights of the Palestinian people.

He added that the policy is a deliberate attempt to undermine the Palestinian economy, weaken the institutions of the Palestinian National Authority and limit their ability to fulfill basic responsibilities toward citizens.

Yamahi emphasised that attempts to legalise the seizure of Palestinian funds through legislation passed by the Knesset do not grant legitimacy to what he described as unlawful practices.

He said the Israeli violations provide additional evidence of the impunity enjoyed by the occupying power amid the international community's failure to adopt effective and binding measures to halt its ongoing violations.

He called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and take concrete action to protect Palestinian rights and ensure respect for international law and existing agreements.

//Petra// AK