Palestinian Media Watch just reported that many of the terrorists released by Israel are leaving prison as millionaires, flush with cash from years of receiving monthly Palestinian Authority (PA) "pay-for-slay" stipends.
The Jerusalem-based watchdog group posted a list last week of all 734 terrorists scheduled for release as part of the latest hostage ceasefire agreement, along with the "salaries" each received from the PA’s so-called “Martyr’s Fund”
In total, the terrorists received $141,837,087 – more than half a billion shekels.
For years, the United States has worked on stopping the PA’s “pay-for-slay” program. In 2018, Congress passed The Taylor Force Act, bipartisan legislation that restricts aid to the PA until it ends the heinous practice, but to date, the payments remain in place.
This week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the PA is finally willing to stop its program that provides payments to Palestinian terrorists who murder Israelis.
While leaders in Israel and the United States welcomed this surprise announcement, many remain skeptical that the P.A. is truly ending the pay-for-slay program.
Jewish Insider's Lahav Harkov reported: "They are doing no such thing... The PA is just restructuring the mechanism through which they pay terrorists so that they can claim it's an 'independent' foundation doing it (albeit one funded by the PA and whose board is appointed by Abbas)."
These payments directly incentivize Palestinians to carry out acts of terrorism against Israelis.
That is why we must continue working with Congress to ensure the permanent dismantlement of the pay-for-slay program in all its variations.
Sincerely,
Cory Meyer
AIPAC Communications Director
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
