Hamas bomb-maker involved in Sbarro restaurant attack that killed 15 Israelis has received $64,000 from the PA

PA paying convicted murderers imprisoned by Israel

Hundreds of thousands of dollars given to Hamas terrorists serving multiple life sentences, report says

By AP and ToI Staff 6 October 2015, 6:36 pm

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Abdullah Barghouti is taken to Jerusalem Magistrate's Court to testify as part of a US civil lawsuit against the Palestinian leadership, on June 20, 2012. (Noam Moskowitz/Flash90)

Official Palestinian government documents published by Israel Radio on Tuesday showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to prisoners convicted in some of the deadliest attacks on Israelis.

The report came after days of violent clashes and repeated Israeli accusations of Palestinian incitement to violence.

Israel Radio said the documents reveal that hefty sums have been given to murderers serving out multiple life sentences in Israeli prisons.

Individuals who received funds from the Palestinian Authority include members of the PA security forces who were implicated in terrorist attacks against Israelis during the Second Intifada, as well as senior Hamas members serving time in Israeli prisons.

Abdullah Barghouti, a Hamas commander and bomb-maker serving 67 life terms for his involvement in several terror attacks, including the bombing of the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem in August 2001 that killed 15 Israelis and wounded some 130, has received over NIS 250,000 ($64,000) from the Palestinian Authority, the report said.

Palestinians have long acknowledged paying support to the families of prisoners held by Israel, but payments made personally to prisoners convicted in deadly attacks have never been made public.

Ashraf al-Ajrami, a former Palestinian minister for prisoners affairs, confirmed the report, saying the prisoners are “heroes” and the money is for their families.