PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) over the weekend met in his Ramallah office with terrorists who were released from Israeli prison in the Gilad Shalit prisoner release agreement. Abu Mazen greeted the former prisoners warmly, explaining that he plans to launch building initiatives that will provide employment for them. He explained the projects will also offer them housing when completed, using funds from a Palestinian Building & Rehabilitation Fund launched by Yasser Arafat in 2001.

According to a Kol Chai Radio report, funds for this building fund are taking from donor nation contributions to the PA, including the United States and European community. In 2008, the PA received $230 million from the United States, to be spread over five years towards constructing and improving the PA infrastructure.

In 2010, the PA launched 354 projects and the United States added an average of $64 million per project.

Tax revenue generated in Israel and transferred by Israel to the PA is also used in part b the fund as is donor funds from the European Union communities.

The PA leader added that he is not forgetting the promise of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, that when a deal is actualized for the return of Gilad Shalit, Israel also release a certain number of PA terrorists, and today, he awaits the government of Israel actualizing this promise. 1,027 Hamas terrorists were released in the Shalit deal with Hamas.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)