Dr. Ahmad Shadid, head of the Al-Finiq (The Phoenix) list contesting the upcoming Palestinian Legislative Council elections, emphasized the urgent need for Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax revenues to prevent a deepening economic crisis in the West Bank. Speaking on Thursday, Shadid warned that failure to transfer these funds could trigger instability with potential ramifications for Jordan and the broader region.
Shadid, addressing Israeli media for the first time since his electoral list was approved by the Palestinian Central Elections Commission, highlighted the severe unemployment crisis in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, joblessness among those aged 15 and older stands at 27.9%, with overall labor underutilization at nearly 30%. He described systemic inefficiencies within Palestinian Authority (PA) institutions as a "cancer" damaging the social and economic fabric.
To tackle unemployment, Shadid proposed two main approaches. The first involves launching agricultural and industrial initiatives capable of employing tens of thousands despite constrained PA resources. The second challenges what he termed the primary cause of unemployment: Israel’s occupation policies. He cited restrictions that prevent over 250,000 Palestinian workers from accessing jobs inside Israel, along with the continued withholding of tax revenues and movement limitations imposed on Palestinian localities, which collectively undermine trade, agriculture, and industry.
Since Hamas’s attacks on southern Israel on October 7, Israel has revoked work permits for approximately 140,000 Palestinians. The West Bank’s tourism and hospitality sectors have also suffered significantly; a recent UN Trade and Development report found that 96% of businesses experienced reduced activity, 42.1% cut staff, and the loss of 306,000 jobs contributed to unemployment rising to 32%. Public sector employees have received only partial salaries, and many public services, including schools, have curtailed operating hours amid frozen tax transfers.
Israel’s withholding of tax revenues is linked to a 2018 law that deducts amounts paid by the PA to individuals convicted of attacks against Israelis—a policy termed ‘pay-for-slay’ by Israel. While Shadid declined to engage directly with this issue, he insisted that the funds belong exclusively to the Palestinian people and that their retention breaches international norms. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has asserted that more than $6 billion has been withheld to date.
Shadid dismissed Israel’s security concerns as unfounded, accusing it of leveraging such pretexts to punish Palestinians and accelerate displacement. He noted that while numerous crimes and fatalities have occurred in Israeli cities, attacks on Jewish settlers—who number over 700,000 in the West Bank—are scarcely reported. However, data from Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies indicates that from 2023 to 2024, more than 10,000 attacks, including stone-throwing and Molotov cocktail incidents, took place in the West Bank, resulting in dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
Looking ahead, Shadid advocated for renewed negotiations guided by international law and the two-state solution framework. He argued that international pressure could compel Israel to comply with legal obligations.
When questioned about the origins and platform of the Phoenix list, Shadid rejected other groups’ electoral promises as either unrealistic or aligned with entrenched power structures. He framed his alliance as a pragmatic alternative, closely connected to popular concerns and focused on achievable goals. The list’s name symbolizes renewal and resilience, inspired by the mythical phoenix rising from ashes.
Shadid cited his academic background, including doctorates in international relations and politics, as qualifications to draft effective legislation and promote reforms across political, security, social, economic, judicial, and legislative sectors. He called for international support, particularly from countries historically aligned with Israel, including Britain and the United States, as well as Europe, which he praised for widespread public protests against the ongoing conflict and blockade imposed on Gaza and the West Bank.
Concluding, Shadid emphasized the Palestinian people’s right to live in peace and security alongside other nations and expressed hope that his list would help advance these aspirations through constructive political engagement.