Meretz MK sorry for saying ‘pay-to-slay’ payments necessary to stop exploitation of women, children

Meretz MK Gaby Lasky apologizes for saying that the payments made by the Palestinian Authority to the families of terrorists are necessary to prevent the exploitation of women and children.

“My statement was out of place and did not justify for a moment the crime of terrorism, and I apologize for it,” Lasky tweets.

“I unequivocally condemn yesterday’s horrific attack,” she says, referring to the terror shooting in Tel Aviv. Two were killed and several wounded when a gunman opened fire at a bar. “I send my condolences to the families.”

Her apology comes after she told the Kan public broadcaster that while “hard to hear,” there was a need for the payments.

“They need to be provided with a livelihood to prevent the exploitation of children and women, or for them themselves moving toward terrorism,” Lasky told the Kan public broadcaster when questioned about the payments.

“It’s hard to hear that, but it’s the truth,” she said.

The Palestinian Authority’s practice of paying allowances to those convicted of carrying out terror attacks and to the families of those killed while carrying out attacks — often referred to by some Israeli officials as a pay-to-slay policy — has been pilloried by critics as incentivizing terror.

Her comments immediately provoked a storm of outrage.

Communications Minster Yoaz Hendel condemned the comment. “A delusional statement — whoever goes out to murder Jews must know that his house will be demolished and his family will suffer,” he said.

The opposition Likud party seized on Lansky’s statement as “proof that [Prime Minister Naftali] Bennett’s weak government is incapable of defeating terrorism.”