Senior Likudniks react angrily to PA payouts to freed terrorists

Ramallah gives convicted terrorists $50,000, monthly stipends; Danon: Aid money is used to fund terror, not peace.

By LAHAV HARKOV, KHALED ABU-TOAMEH
Moayyad Hajji hugs his sister after his release from prison (photo credit: REUTERS)
Moayyad Hajji hugs his sister after his release from prison
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Palestinian Authority confirmed on Monday that it has been providing grants to security prisoners Israel released in August and October.
The PA said, however, that the sums mentioned by Israel – up to $50,000 for each former inmate – were “inaccurate” and “exaggerated.”
The Office of the IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in a report that Palestinians who spent more than 25 years in prison had received $50,000 each.
In addition, each freed prisoner will receive the status of a deputy minister or the rank of major-general in the PA security forces – both worth a monthly stipend of NIS 14,000.
A senior Palestinian official told Israel Radio that the goal of the largesse is to enable the newly released men to “begin their lives anew and reacclimate themselves to society.”
Issa Abed Rabbo, the most veteran of the 52 prisoners released, received a $60,000 bonus and the PA also offered to cover the expenses of his wedding. Abed Rabbo was convicted of murdering two Israelis near Bethlehem in 1984.
PA Prisoners Affairs Minister Issa Qaraqi confirmed that the released prisoners were receiving “humanitarian” aid from the PA government to enable them to live “decently” in Palestinian society.
“We are making efforts to help the released prisoners,” Qaraqi told the Ma’an news agency. “Most of them need medical treatment and some will have to begin their lives from zero to build a house and marry.”
Qaraqi said that the figures mentioned by Israel were “exaggerated” and “inaccurate.”
He accused Israel of incitement and said that this was an internal Palestinian affair.
“Israel has no right to meddle in our internal affairs,” he said. “This is an Israeli attempt to pressure the international community that supports the Palestinian Authority.”
“The world thinks it’s funding peace, but instead the Palestinians fund terror,” Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon said of the benefits given to freed terrorists.
“Their aid money is used to give massive grants to terrorists.
The world must stop sending money to the PA until it stops funding terror.
Deputy Minister for Liaison with the Knesset Ofir Akunis said the PA is actively encouraging terrorism and the result is apparent. He called for an end to prisoner releases.
“While Israel makes more gestures, the Palestinian leadership continues to feed the fire of violence and encourage terror,” Akunis said. “The grants to villainous murderers shows the true face or our so-called partners for peace, and is further proof that they did not come to the negotiating room with clean hands.”