Member of US Congress calls to cut off aid to PA
Member of US Congress calls to cut off aid to PA
because of PA salaries to terrorists
Growing impact of PMW exposure of PA salaries
in parliaments and in US Congress
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
because of PA salaries to terrorists
Growing impact of PMW exposure of PA salaries
in parliaments and in US Congress
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Palestinian Media Watch's reports on the PA's payments of salaries to terrorists continue to reverberate in parliaments and US Congress. Last month, Dutch Parliament in an overwhelming majority vote called on their government to demand the PA stop salary payments to terrorist prisoners. (See text below).
Now US Congressman Jim Gerlach has written to Sec. of State John Kerry asking the that US stop foreign aid to the PA because it pays salaries and stipends to "compensate convicted terrorists and/or their families."
The following is from the letter of Congressman Jim Gerlach:
"Dear Secretary [of State John] Kerry:
"Recent news reports have indicated that the PA has provided monetary payments or salaries to individuals convicted of committing acts of terrorism, including those recently released as part of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. According to such reports (i.e., reports published by PMW, -Ed.), these salaries or stipends are provided by the PA to convicted terrorists... What is the U.S. Department of State doing specifically to immediately halt any U.S. taxpayer dollars going to the PA until this program is stopped?" U.S. foreign aid.... must not be used by the PA directly or indirectly to compensate convicted terrorists and/or their families... I look forward to your swift response... Jim Gerlach, Member of Congress, [Dec. 5, 2013]"
Click to see full letterMotion passed in Dutch Parliament
"The [Dutch] parliament ... noting that since 2011 the Palestinian Authority has been giving money to convicted Palestinians in Israeli prisons (i.e., Palestinians convicted of terror offenses); whereas each [prisoner] can count on a monthly payment of € 282 for a sentence of less than three years, rising to € 2,419 if convicted for a sentence of more than 30 years; noting that those punished in the highest [salary] category include those responsible for terrorist attacks in which innocent children, women and men have been killed, [the Dutch parliament] calls on the [Dutch] Government in its bilateral contacts with the Palestinian Authority to demand it stop this support as it can be interpreted as encouragement for crime." [Voted in Dutch Parliament, Nov. 27, 2013"]
Click to see the impact of PMW reports in other parliaments, which are listed in our recent funding request.