PA reportedly paying millions to terror prisoners

The Palestinian Authority has paid hundreds of thousands of shekels to each of the security prisoners held in Israel, according to a report by Israel Radio published today.

Documents attained by the station’s Palestinian affairs reporter show that many of the prisoners are members of Hamas who were responsible for attacks in which Israelis were wounded or killed, and they continue to receive salaries to this day.

Official PA documents published by Israel Radio show that Abdullah Barghouti, who was sentenced to 67 life sentences, received more than a quarter million shekels from the PA.

Ibrahim Hamed, who was the head of the Hamas military wing in the West Bank and was sentenced to 54 life sentences, received NIS 200,000 (c. $50,000) in wages from the PA.

Both were involved in some of the most devastating suicide attacks during the Second Intifada, including the attack in Jerusalem’s Moment Café, at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem and at the Sheffield Club in Rishon Lezion.

Another man, Muhammad Araman, a Hamas member who serves as head of the prisoners’ organization in jail, received a quarter million shekels until 2012. He is serving 36 life sentences.

Members of the Silwan cell, responsible for several lethal attacks during the previous decade, each received NIS 250,000-NIS 300,000 from the PA.

The documents acquired by Israel Radio also specify salaries for members of the Palestinian Authority’s security sources who perpetrated terror attacks during the Second Intifada and are still being held in Israel.

Ashraf al-Ajrami, former minister for prisoner affairs at the PA, says the money is meant to help the prisoners’ families. He says the Palestinians see the prisoners as heroes and freedom fighters.

Head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tzachi Hanegbi tells the station that PA President Mahmoud Abbas is inflaming violence and terrorism by compensating terrorists with money.