This is an entry from: Gaza live: Gaza death toll rises to 35,80
US concerned about Israeli threat to disconnect Israeli and Palestinian banks
23 May 2024 22:12 BST
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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she is concerned by Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich’s threat to sever ties between Palestinian and Israeli banks.
Under a longstanding agreement, Israeli banks process payments in shekels for the services and salaries of the Palestinian Authority.
“I expect other countries to express concern about the impact of such a decision on the West Bank economy. I think this would have a very adverse effect also on Israel,” Yellen said.
Yellen said everything possible had to be done to “stabilise the West Bank’s economy”.