The Palestinians asked an arbitration of the United States and Europe to make Israel release the Palestinian tax revenue dues without cuts, a senior Palestinian official said here on Monday.

Saeb Erekat, an official in Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) told Palestinian Radio "Voice of Palestine" that the Palestinian side has asked the United States and Europe's intervention to release the Palestinian dues without cuts.

"We seek the world's arbitration between us and the Israelis in accordance to the signed treaties and agreements in order to get our tax revenue dues," said Erekat.

Israel in early January decided to withhold the Palestinian tax revenue dues which it collects from the Palestinian trade at the crossing points it controls and due to pay back to the treasury of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

Withholding the Palestinian dues was made in response to the Palestinian decision to join 20 international treaties and agencies, including the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court.

After the Israeli elections, Israel decided to pay the dues back but wanted to cut the cost of water, electricity and medical services Israel provides to the Palestinians in the West Bank.

"If all the efforts and all options to get our money back fail, we intend to go for an international arbitration," said Erekat, referring to the ICC, in which Palestine has joined in April 1 as a member.

He added that cutting our dues is "an Israeli robbery and piracy and we will never keep silent for that."