RAMALLAH, Palestine

Israel transferred $1.14 billion in tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Wednesday, according to the Palestinian civil affairs minister.

Hussein Al-Sheikh said on Twitter that Israel "transferred [to the PA] all the due tax revenues amounting to 3.76 billion shekels ($1.14 b)”.

Earlier, Israeli media said that the Israeli cabinet decided on Sunday to deduct 600 million shekels ($180 millions) from the Palestinian tax revenues.

In July 2018, the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) passed a bill that allows the Israeli government to deduct the same amount of what the Palestinian Authority pays as monthly stipends to the Palestinian prisoners and to families of Palestinian martyrs and injured.

The tax revenues -- known in Palestine and Israel as maqasa -- are collected by the Israeli government on behalf of the PA on Palestinian imports and exports. Israel in return earns a commission of 3% of collected revenues.

The tax revenues collected are estimated at around $188 millions every month, for which tax revenues represent the main source of income to the PA.

In May, the PA refused to receive its tax revenues from Israel as part of its decision to suspend coordination with Israel in protest of the Israeli announcement to annex large areas in the occupied West Bank.

However, the PA announced last month the resumption of security and civil coordination with Israel.

* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara