“The Palestinian Authority continues to pay cash aid to convicted terrorists and their families, despite official commitments to Great Britain and the European Union to end this practice.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Source: The Telegraph
Details: The European Union says it has accumulated evidence that so-called “terrorist salaries” are still being paid. This is despite the fact that the administration led by Mahmoud Abbas has pledged to cancel these payments in exchange for the recognition of the state of Palestine by Western countries.
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The British organization “Labor Friends of Israel” accused the PA leadership of reneging on its obligations to London and other governments regarding the liquidation of the “Martyrs’ Fund”. It was through this structure that financial support was provided to Palestinians convicted of terrorism. According to critics, in 2023 the volume of such payments amounted to about $30 million per month, which in fact encouraged violence against Israelis.
Although the Palestinian Authority has repeatedly declared its intention to stop this practice, actual actions indicate otherwise. In February, Abbas signed an executive order halting the payments, and in September promised to cancel them again as part of an agreement with Britain and France.
However, according to Israeli mass media, a few days after the February decree, Abbas made a speech in which he assured that funding “prisoners and martyrs” remains a priority.
Direct speech of Abbas: “Even if we have but one penny left, it will be for the prisoners and the martyrs. I will not consent, and you must not consent, to a diminution of any obligation, any interest, or any money belonging to them. They must receive everything as before, for they are worth more than all of us!”
Details: According to available reports, payments to convicts and their families continue through a new welfare program, the Palestinian National Economic Development Institution (PNEEI). The money comes through a number of “workarounds” even if recipients have not formally applied for aid from the new institution.
The European Commission is already demanding clarifications from the PA as to whether the program, which was promised to be closed, is still active. Some analysts suggest that under the PNEEI, families of terrorists may continue to receive compensation disguised as bereavement benefits.
The direct speech of EU spokesman Guillaume Mercier: “For the EU, the reform of the Palestinian Authority’s welfare system has always been key. Ending payments to ‘prisoners and martyrs’ is an important part of the reform agenda… However, we understand that the families of prisoners were recently paid based on the previous program. We are deeply saddened by this decision, as it contradicts previous statements.”
Details: At the same time, the European Commission denied that EU taxpayers’ funds were used for these “disputed payments”.
Luke Akehurst, a member of the British Parliament from the Labor Party, criticized the actions of the Palestinian leadership, noting that the PA violates not only its promises, but also the UN-backed American peace plan.
“Despite warm words about reforms from the Palestinian Authority, it seems that once again promises are made to Western governments, which are then quietly reneged on,” Akehurst noted.