Israeli Official Criticizes Palestinian Authority Over Terrorism Policy
JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has strongly criticized the Palestinian Authority (PA) for continuing its controversial “Pay-for-Slay” program, which provides financial rewards to families of terrorists. His remarks come after the tragic killing of two Israelis by a Palestinian on Friday.
Victims of the attack were Aviv Maor, 19, from Kibbutz Ein Harod, and 68-year-old Mordechai Shimshon from Beit She’an, both from northern Israel.
Sa’ar’s comments highlighted the issue of the PA’s payment policy that has drawn significant attention since the murder of Taylor Force, a West Point graduate, by a Palestinian terrorist in 2016. Following this incident, President Donald Trump enacted the Taylor Force Act in 2018, prohibiting U.S. aid to the PA until it ends the program.
Before the recent attacks, Sa’ar admonished the international community about the PA’s alleged dishonesty. He stated on social media: “Do not believe Mahmoud Abbas’ lies. The PA’s payments to terrorists and their families have not ceased.” He accused the PA of disguising payments to released terrorists as pension funds for security service members.
Israeli experts, like Kobi Michael from Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, have echoed these sentiments, asserting that there has been no real change in the PA’s policy regarding payments to terrorists.
Michael described the PA’s attempts to modify the program as superficial. “They pretend to change their policies,” he said, describing it as a “façade.” He warned that the “Pay-for-Slay” practice would persist in new forms, making it harder for donors to monitor these payments.
Statements from a PA-linked group, the Palestinian National Economic Empowerment Institution (Tamkeen), claim that the payment system for prisoners has been entirely abolished, labeling accusations of its continuation as misinformation.
Fox News Digital reached out multiple times to the Palestinian Authority for comments but did not receive a response.
Michael emphasized the importance of stringent financial oversight by donor nations. He criticized Western European leaders for recognizing a Palestinian state without ensuring it would not support terrorism, saying their actions encourage the continuation of the “Pay-for-Slay” policy.
He noted the need for pressure on the PA to dismantle terrorist organizations like Hamas in Gaza to prevent further violence.
The U.S. State Department did not provide immediate comments on this issue.
