New Palestinian Law Grants Salaries and Benefits to...Violent Terrorists

Imagine your government utilizing your tax dollars to compensate radical terrorists. This is exactly what is happening in Palestine, as new regulations offer a government-sponsored reward system for radicals.

Last week, Palestinian Media Watch (PMA), an Israeli research institute, provided information on a startling new terror-supporting law that the Palestinian Authority has implemented. The provision provides compensation to any Palestinian or Israeli Arab who is being imprisoned in Israel for acts of terrorism. Yes, that's right -- compensation. PMA explains further:

A law published in the official Palestinian Authority Registry last month grants all Palestinians and Israeli Arabs imprisoned in Israel for terror crimes a monthly salary from the PA. The Arabic word the PA uses for this payment is "ratib," meaning "salary"...Following the signing of this new law, the PA is now paying a salary to these prisoners...

The PA also gives a salary to Israeli Arabs convicted of terror crimes against Israel - the country of which they are citizens. PA benefits to Israeli Arab terrorists, in fact, are greater than the ones extended to Palestinian terrorists.

This is astonishing, considering that these monies are clearly being allocated as rewards for launching attacks against Israel. The Jerusalem Post writes:

The PMW report points out that more than 6,000 Palestinians are currently serving time in Israeli prisons for terror- related offenses. Among those now eligible for salaries are Abdullah Barghouti, serving 67 life sentences for acts that include planning the Sbarro restaurant (2001) and Moment cafe (2002) suicide bombings in Jerusalem; Hassan Salameh, serving 38 life sentences for offenses that include planning a series of 1996 bus bombings; and Jamal Abu al-Hijja, serving nine life sentences for planning 2005 bombings in Hadera and Netanya.

And violent terrorists receive much more than mere salaries. PMW claims that they also receive exemption from tuition fees at government schools (pending they serve five years behind bars). The tuition discount even applies to the criminal's children, on condition that the prisoner was sentenced to at least 20 years and has currently served at least five years of that sentence. In this scenario, the prisoner's children receive an 80 percent discount. And did I mention there are health care benefits as well?

The United States is one of the largest donors to the Palestinian Authority.  Voice of America reported that as of Nov. 2010, the U.S. had provided $225 million in direct budget assistance to the Palestinian Authority for the year, with the total yearly investment in the Palestinians standing at $600 million. In April, due to concerns over connections to Hamas, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY04) called for the U.S. to stop aid to the Palestinian Authority.

One would hope that none of the monies the U.S. provides the Palestinian government with are turned around and paid out to radical terrorists. Hopefully, the U.S. and other donor nations are auditing Palestinian Authority expenditures. But, that's doubtful.