2017-01-01
The Financial Follow-Up Unit of the State of Palestine issued Decision No. (2) of 2017 to designate North Korea, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Iraq, Syria, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Yemen as high-risk jurisdictions due to non-compliance or partial compliance with AML/CFT standards. The directive mandates all Palestinian financial institutions to apply specific counteractive measures against North Korea and enhanced due diligence procedures for Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while requiring all competent authorities to enforce these measures immediately upon issuance. This decision updates previous regulatory lists and aligns national financial oversight with FATF recommendations and UN Security Council resolutions to mitigate money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation risks.
State of Palestine
State of Palestine
Issued by the Financial Follow-Up Unit
Dated 11/July/2017
Pursuant to the provisions of Law Decree No. (20) of 2015 on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and its amendments, particularly Paragraph (16) of Article (20),
Based on the decision of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing No. (8/J/2016) issued on 01/12/2016, regarding the delegation to the Financial Follow-Up Unit to publish the list of high-risk countries issued periodically by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF),
And in light of public interest requirements, it has been decided as follows:
The following countries are considered high-risk due to their non-compliance or partial compliance with AML/CFT standards:
(a) Democratic People's Republic of Korea/North Korea (prohibited from dealing with).
(b) Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Iraq, Syria, Uganda, Republic of Vanuatu, Yemen (dealing with these countries is subject to specific measures).
All financial institutions operating in Palestine shall adopt the measures specified in the table attached to this Decision when dealing with the countries mentioned in the First section of this Decision.
All competent authorities shall implement the provisions of this Decision from the date of its issuance.
A. Wael Lafi
Director of the Financial Follow-Up Unit
State of Palestine – Al Bireh P.O.Box 3981
Tel.: 0097022984089, 0097022967401 Fax: 0097022967426
E-mail: info@ffu.ps
www.ffu.ps
| Country Name | Measures to be Taken |
|---|---|
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) | Continue to take counteractive and effective measures to prohibit dealing with all financial institutions and companies operating and licensed in North Korea and those representing or acting on their behalf, including prohibiting the execution of financial transactions to or from North Korea for natural or legal persons, and severing all correspondent banking relationships with financial institutions operating and licensed there, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to safeguard the integrity of Palestine's financial system from any risks arising from business relations and transactions with North Korea, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing risks affecting the international financial system. |
| Iran | Continue to take enhanced due diligence measures regarding business relations with the State of Iran, including financial transactions executed from or to it for natural or legal persons, and consider correspondent banking relationships with financial institutions operating and licensed in Iran, in compliance with Law Decree No. (20) of 2015 on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and its amendments, related instructions, and FATF Recommendation No. 19. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Continue to take enhanced due diligence measures regarding business relations with that country, including financial transactions executed from or to it for natural or legal persons, and consider correspondent banking relationships with financial institutions operating and licensed there, in compliance with Law Decree No. (20) of 2015 on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and its amendments and related instructions. |
| Ethiopia | |
| Iraq | |
| Syria | |
| Uganda | |
| Republic of Vanuatu | |
| Yemen |
State of Palestine – Al Bireh P.O.Box 3981
Tel.: 0097022984089, 0097022967401 Fax: 0097022967426
E-mail: info@ffu.ps
www.ffu.ps
Countries - Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
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High-risk and non-cooperative jurisdictions
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This map is for illustrative purposes and is without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or areas.
On the basis of the results of the review by the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), the FATF identifies jurisdictions with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies in the following public documents that are issued three times a year: FATF Public Statement (call for action) and Improving Global AML/CFT Compliance: On-going Process (other monitored jurisdictions).
| Call for action | Other monitored jurisdictions | |
|---|---|---|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | • | |
| Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) | • | • |
| Ethiopia | • | |
| Iran | • | • |
| Iraq | • | |
| Syria | • | |
| Uganda | • | |
| Vanuatu | • | |
| Yemen | • |