*Sinjlawi: Holding Fuel Monopolists in Gaza Accountable is a National and International Duty… The PA Explains the West Bank Crisis but Doesn’t Know How to End It*
In an interview with Makan Radio this morning, Samer Sinjlawi, head of the New Path Party, warned that the fuel crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is not a sectoral or temporary crisis, but rather a direct reflection of a structural economic and financial crisis that threatens widespread economic collapse if urgent steps are not taken to address it.
Sinjlawi explained that the roots of the crisis in the West Bank lie in the Paris Economic Agreement, which restricted Palestinian fuel imports and limited them to Israel. It also tied the Palestinian banking system to only two Israeli banks, Discount and Hapoalim, making the Palestinian economy heavily dependent on Israeli decisions.
He added that about half of what Palestinian citizens pay for fuel goes to the “Blue Tax,” funds that Israel withholds as part of the clearance revenues, while Israeli banks refuse to accept excess shekel liquidity from Palestinian banks. As a result, Palestinian banks also began refusing to accept large amounts of cash in shekels from citizens and merchants, leading to significant disruptions in import and distribution operations, the effects of which were clearly visible in the fuel sector.
Al-Sinjlawi emphasized that the fuel crisis is merely one symptom of a broader economic crisis, warning of the potential for economic collapse, especially given the approaching deadline set by Israeli banks for ceasing dealings with Palestinian banks within a month and a half. This could paralyze vital sectors, including electricity and water.
Speaking about the Gaza Strip, Al-Sinjlawi stated that the fuel crisis there has different causes, stemming from the monopoly on fuel supply by a single individual, imposed by an Israeli decision. He added, “In my opinion, the Palestinian merchant Muhammad al-Kharzandar bears a grave moral and national responsibility for this monopoly, and he must be held accountable both nationally and internationally.”
He pointed out that the consequences of this monopoly were disastrous, with the price of a kilowatt of electricity rising to about 30 shekels after being around two shekels before the war, while the price of a liter of gasoline or diesel reached about 120 shekels at times.
In response to a question about businessman Tariq al-Natsha and his connection to the fuel crisis, Sinjlawi clarified that his case was different, saying that he knew al-Natsha personally and considered him “a man of integrity who enjoys widespread respect and popularity in Palestinian society.” He added that al-Natsha found himself caught in the vortex of the crisis resulting from the accumulation of cash flow, the disruption of fuel supply chains, and the Palestinian Authority’s mounting debts to suppliers, including fuel distributors.
Sinjlawi indicated that the complaints filed against al-Natsha appeared, in his estimation, to be malicious, especially after the Palestinian Public Prosecution announced that tests had proven there were no instances of adulteration, mixing, or forgery in the fuel at his stations. He emphasized that the case should remain subject to the law and the judiciary.
Al-Sinjlawi concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the Palestinian economic crisis in the West Bank has become deep and serious, and that the main problem lies in the fact that official bodies are content with explaining the reasons for the crisis and answering the question “why?”, while they are still unable to provide practical answers to the question “how?”, that is, how can this crisis be resolved and solutions put in place that are feasible be
fore it is too late.
التاريخ 23-7-2026
