The PA (Palestinian Authority) debt to the Israel Electric Company (IEC) has reached 730 million NIS, members of the Knesset Economics Committee learned on Wednesday, 13 Sivan 5773.

When asked to comment, IEC CEO Yiftach Ron-Tal told committee members that he does not understanding, why Israeli consumers who do not pay their bill are cut off while the PA continues running a bill without any action taken. He explained the orders not to attempt to collect the debt has come from the government, and from Ron-Tal’s perspective, as soon as the government gives him the green light, he will happily begin collection proceedings against the PA.

MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Gila Gamliel expressed outrage over the fact that Israeli consumers are carrying the PA bill on their shoulders. She pointed out that IEC officials have been screaming but the government continues, willing to permit the PA debt to climb.

Two weeks ago, in a Knesset address, Minister of Energy & Water (Likud) Silvan Shalom called the PA’s electric bill a “disgrace”. Shalom points out that in line with the Oslo Agreement and other agreements signed since, Israel as the right to take funds owed to the PA towards paying the bill but the powers that be have not permitted such action.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)