In a “frustrating” telephonic conversation, US President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government’s decision to withhold Palestinian tax funds must be resolved, The Times of Israel quoted a report, citing US and Israeli officials. The report stated the call was made on Saturday and was one of the most difficult and “frustrating” so far since October 7 (the day the war began).

“The feeling was that the president is going out on a limb for Bibi every day and when Bibi needs to give something back and take some political risk he is unwilling to do it,” the official said.

Israel collects monthly tax revenues on behalf of Ramallah (a Palestinian city in the central West Bank or Ramallah Bank) on imports and exports, and transfers those funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA), but has increasingly held off on some of the funds over various issues, chiefly Ramallah’s payment of stipends to terror convicts and the families of slain terrorists. Recently, it also warned it will not allow the PA to transfer funds earmarked for services and salaries in the Gaza Strip, alleging the money could reach Hamas while Israel is at war with the terror group.