The Defense Minister has released alarming statistics, the amounts paid to terrorists imprisoned in Israel, and their families, by the PA (Palestinian Authority).

A terrorist serving life in prison and an Israeli citizen, received NIS 10,950 monthly from the PA (Palestinian Authority), more than the average monthly salary in Israel according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. This and similar alarming information has prompted a bill seeking to deduct the sum paid by the PA to terrorists and their families from tax funds transferred by Israel to the PA.

In 2017, PA paid prisoners and released prisoners over NIS 550 million, as the payment is often for the rest of one’s life. Dwarfing this figure is the fact that families of terrorists who were killed or wounded received NIS 687 million from the PA.

According to the data from the PA, a terrorist sentenced to three to five years in prison gets NIS 2,000 a month, while one sentenced to 20-35 years will get NIS 10,000 a month for the rest of his life. if the convicted terrorist is married, this earns him an additional NIS 300 monthly and NIS 50 per child. If a terrorist is lucky enough to reside in Jerusalem, this will earn him an additional NIS 300 a month.

What makes its more amazing is (1) donor nations continue pouring in donations and (2) the average salary for PA residents in PA areas is NIS 2,000 monthly. So, we learn there is a true monetary and status initiative to becoming a terrorist.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman is working hard to end this, adding, “The PA pays over NIS 1 billion a year to terrorists and their families and thereby encourages and perpetuates terrorism.”

All of the above without mentioning the rights they enjoy in Israeli prison, including education such as completing high school, college or event a graduate degree.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)