UNITED NATIONS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- UN political affairs chief on Tuesday called for temporary measures to address the Palestinian Authority's (PA) fiscal crisis.

While discussions aimed at resolving the PA's financial crisis are ongoing, no solution has yet been found, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council in a meeting on the Middle East.

The PA is passing through a crucial financial crisis since the Israeli decision made in February to cut from the tax revenue dues that Israel collects from the Palestinian trade on behalf of the PA.

According to DiCarlo, for the fifth consecutive month, the Palestinian Government has refused to receive Israel's partial transfer of tax revenues owed to it.

Despite the PA's announced austerity measures and the support package committed by Qatar, the PA remains under tremendous strain and may soon reach the breaking point, said DiCarlo.

The Palestinian economy is increasingly showing signs of decline, with a noticeable reduction of purchasing power contributing to an overall reduction in economic activities, she added.

DiCarlo called on both sides to engage in a constructive manner to ensure compliance with the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations, and she encouraged Israel and the PA to work together to find temporary measures to address the fiscal crisis.

The recent decision by the League of Arab States to support the PA with up to 100 million U.S. dollars per month should provide a welcome respite until a viable solution is found, she noted.

Humanitarian and economic support for the Palestinian population is crucial to creating an environment conducive to viable negotiation, said Dicarlo, adding that such measures should be followed by a comprehensive peace agreement that addresses all final status issues. Enditem

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