Israel has stopped the transfer of taxes collected on behalf of the Palestinians to the Palestinian Authority Government. The step has come in retaliation against the move by the Palestinians to join the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Israel collects taxes for the Palestinians under the current interim peace accords and transfers every month the amount to the Palestinian Authority. December's tax transfer is about $127 million. Chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat denounced the move and said it amounts to war crime and a collective punishment against the Palestinian people. Israel has stopped tax transfers to Palestinians earlier as well but they have been short-lived.