Today, Friday, the Israeli government announced the adoption of 5 sanctions against the Palestinian Authority, due to its approach to the International Court of Justice last week.
In its first response to the Israeli move, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry affirmed that Israel's punitive measures will not discourage the Palestinian people and its leadership from continuing the movement to end the occupation.
Ahmed Al-Deek, the Palestinian Assistant Foreign Minister, described the decision as "state terrorism" and an expression of the racist colonial mentality that has come to dominate the government in the occupying Power, as he put it.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office said - in a written statement - "The security cabinet held its first meeting to decide on the response to the Palestinian Authority's decision to launch a political and legal war against the State of Israel."
"The current government will not stand idly by in the face of this war and will respond as necessary," the office added.
"The cabinet approved a number of steps to be taken towards the Palestinian Authority, after its move towards the International Court of Justice last week," he added.
He indicated that he had decided, first, to transfer approximately $39 million in Palestinian Authority funds to Israelis who say they have been affected by operations carried out by Palestinians.
He stated that he also decided to deduct funds from the Palestinian financial dues equivalent to what the Palestinian Authority pays as social allowances for the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs.
And he added, "Thirdly, freezing Palestinian construction plans in Area C, after illegal occupation attempts by the Palestinian Authority, in contravention of international agreements."
Area (C) is equivalent to about 60% of the West Bank and falls under full Israeli security and civil responsibility, and Israeli settlements are spread in it.
"Fourth, depriving the important figures leading the political and legal war against Israel of privileges," he added, referring to the travel permits granted to senior officials in the Palestinian Authority.
"Fifth, measures will be taken against organizations in the West Bank that promote hostile activity, including political and legal action against Israel under the guise of humanitarian action," he added.
It is noteworthy that the United Nations General Assembly voted last week in favor of requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.