PMW Bulletin
July 27, 2011
PMW report presented in US Congress
The following report documents the Palestinian Authority's use of American
funding to pay salaries to terrorists in Israeli prisons and glorification
of terrorists by the PA. It was presented yesterday by PMW director Itamar
Marcus to members of Congress at a meeting in the Republican Israel Caucus.
PMW Special Report, July 26, 2011
Palestinian Authority glorification
of terrorists and paying salaries
to terrorists with US money
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=5336
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
p:+972 2 625 4140 e: pmw@palwatch.org
f: +972 2 624 2803 w: www.palwatch.org
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Palestinian Authority funding
and glorification of terrorists
- The Palestinian Authority pays monthly salaries to 5,500 prisoners in
Israeli prisons, including terrorists
- The PA honors terrorists who have killed civilians, presenting them as
heroes and role models
- The PA glorifies terror attacks as heroic, including suicide bombings
- The PA funds these salaries and activities from its general budget
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US funding of the Palestinian Authority:
- The US funds the PA general budget
- US law prohibits funding of any person who "... engages in, or has
engaged in, terrorist activity..."
- US law prohibits funding "for the purpose of recognizing or otherwise
honoring individuals who commit, or have committed acts of terrorism."
Click to view full report in PDF
http://palwatch.org/STORAGE/special%20reports/Funding%20terrorists%20with%20US%20money.pdf
PA Pays Monthly Salaries to Terrorists - Essential Facts
1. New PA law enacts payment of monthly salaries to terrorists in Israeli
prisons:
A law signed and published in the official Palestinian Authority Registry in
April 2011 puts all Palestinians and Israeli Arabs imprisoned in Israel for
terror crimes on the PA payroll to receive a monthly salary from the PA.
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 15, 2011] This new law called
PA Government Resolution of 2010, numbers 21 and 23, formalizes what has
long been a PA practice.
2. Recipients of the monthly salary:
The PA has defined by law which Palestinians would be considered
"prisoners":
"Anyone imprisoned in the occupation's [Israel's] prisons as a result of his
participation in the struggle against the occupation." [Ch. 1 of Law of
Prisoners, 2004/19,passed and published by the PA Chairman and Government,
December 2004. The Prisoners' Centre for Studies, www.alasra.ps, Accessed
May 9, 2011]
According to the PA definition, more than 5,500 Palestinian prisoners
serving time for terror-related offenses are recipients. [Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida, July 14, 2011] Palestinian car thieves in Israeli prisons will
not receive a salary, but every terrorist in prison including murderers are
on the PA payroll. The salary goes directly to the terrorist or the
terrorist's family, and prisoners receive salary from the day of arrest.
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 15, 2011]
3. Hamas and Fatah terrorist prisoners receive monthly salaries:
"The PA's Ministry for Prisoner Affairs said that its policy had always been
to pay salaries to prisoners and their families 'regardless of their
political affiliations.'" [Jerusalem Post, May 20, 2011].
4. Total amount that the PA pays in salaries to prisoners monthly:
Total: 17,678,247 Shekel ($5,207,000) a month, based on May 2011.
[Life and the Market, supplement to Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 19, 2011]
5. Terrorists in prison receive higher average salary than PA civil
servants and military personnel
Salary recipients
Average monthly salary
Civil servant
2,882
Military personnel
2,704
Prisoner
3,129
[Life and the Market, supplement to Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 19, 2011]
6. PA salary payments to prisoners is dependent on foreign funding
The new PA law stipulates that payment of salaries "will be implemented...
on the basis of available sources of funding." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April
15, 2011] Accordingly, it is the contributions by the US and other foreign
donors to the PA general budget that facilitates the payment of monthly
salaries to the terrorist prisoners.
US law and US funding of the Palestinian Authority
7. US law prohibits funding terrorists and past terrorists:
CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010: ASSISTANCE FOR THE WEST BANK AND
Gaza, SEC. 7039. (b) VETTING.-
"Prior to the obligation of funds appropriated by this Act under the heading
'Economic Support Fund' for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza, the
Secretary of State shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that such
assistance is not provided to or through any individual, private or
government entity, or educational institution that the Secretary knows or
has reason to believe advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged
in, terrorist activity..."
8. The US contributed $225 million in 2010 to the general PA budget from
which the salaries are paid
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that an additional US grant in
November 2010 "brings our direct budget assistance to a total of $225
million for the year and our overall support and investment to nearly $600
million this year."
[State dept. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Announcement of the
Transfer
of Budget Assistance Funds to the Palestinian Authority, Nov. 10, 2010]
-------------------------------------------------------
PA's Honoring Terrorists - Essential Facts:
9. The PA leadership and the structures they control present terrorist
murderers as heroes and role models, and use the PA budget to honor them and
glorify their terror attacks.
The following are examples from 2011:
10. A Palestinian Authority summer camp for children sponsored by PA
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad divided its campers into three groups named
after the terrorists Dalal Mughrabi, Salah Khalaf and Abu Ali Mustafa.
[Al-Ayyam, July 20, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, July 21, 2011]
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=5312
Dalal Mughrabi in 1978 led the most lethal terror attack in Israel's
history, in which 37 civilians were killed, including one American and 12
children.
Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad), head of Black September terror group, planned the
murder of two American diplomats, and the Munich Olympics attack in 1972,
and other terror attacks.
Abu Ali Mustafa, General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine, planned many terror attacks against civilians.
11. PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad honored terrorist bombers
"Prime Minister Salam Fayyad opened his weekly radio address... by sending
greetings to the Palestinian mother in honor of Mothers' Day... He said, 'On
this occasion, I will not fail to mention with honor and admiration the
resolve of the female prisoners, the fighters, and of all the prisoners of
freedom who are imprisoned in the Israeli prisons, experiencing
indescribable suffering... I make special mention of all the female
prisoners who are mothers: Iman Ghazawi;... Qahira Al-Sa'adi; Irena
Sarahneh; Latifa Abu Zara'a...'" [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 24, 2011,
reported in PMW bulletin, March 27, 2011]
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=4843
Qahira Al-Sa'adi and Irena Sarahneh, drove suicide bombers to their attacks
killing 5.
Iman Ghazawi, placed a bomb in a bus station in Tel Aviv.
Latifa Abu Zara'a, smuggled a bomb into Israel for a suicide terror attack
that was uncovered before it was implemented.
12. Abbas granted $2000 to family of terrorist
In January 2011, a Palestinian terrorist carrying two pipe bombs ran towards
Israeli soldiers screaming "Allahu Akbar" ("Allah is Greatest"). He was shot
and killed. PA Chairman Abbas granted "the relatives of the Martyr" - $2000.
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 25, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, Jan. 27, 2011]
13. PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs honored terrorist responsible for
murder of 30
PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake visited the family of the
terrorist Abbas Al-Sayid who planned the Passover suicide bombing in 2002.
30 Israelis were killed in the terror attack during the Passover Seder
dinner. The PA minister handed the family an honorary plaque. [Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida, March 29, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, March 31, 2011
]http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=4554
14. PA erected tree with pictures of 73 Palestinian prisoners serving
life sentences
PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake participated in a ceremony
honoring all 73 Palestinians from Bethlehem serving life sentences in
prison. The PA unveiled a "Tree of Freedom for Prisoners" decorated with 73
"photographs of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment." [Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida, April 20, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, May 19, 2011]
15. PA officials visited homes of terrorists serving life sentences
"District Governor of Bethlehem, Abd Al-Fatah Hamael [and other PA
officials]... visited the homes of prisoners... Mahmoud Abu Sorour, Nasser
Abu Sorour, Riyad Al-Amour, Adnan Al-Afandi, and Rizq Salah... The district
governor gave [the families] gift packages of sweets with pictures of the
prisoners printed on them." [Al-Hayat Al-JadidaApril 18, 2011, reported in
PMW bulletin, May 19, 2011]
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=5035
Riyad Al-Amour - Serving 11 life sentences for murder of 9 Israelis and 3
Palestinians he suspected of helping Israel.
Adnan Al-Afandi - Attempted to kill two children by stabbing them, 1992
Nasser and Mahmoud Abu Sorour - Participated in murder of Israeli
Intelligence agent.
Rizq Salah - Killed an Israeli soldier with a bomb in Bethlehem, 1993.
16. The official PA daily: 4 terrorists involved in murdering 117
Israelis are "heroic"
The official PA daily reported on the visit of the Palestinian Prisoners'
Center for Studies to the homes of terrorists serving life sentences for
murder. The PA daily referred to the terrorists as follows: "The heroic
prisoners Abbas and Abdallah Barghouti, Mahmoud Issa, Jamal Abu Al-Haija,
Hassan Salameh..."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 13, 2011]
Abdallah Barghouti - sentenced to 67 life sentences for involvement in
suicide bombing attacks in which 66 Israelis were murdered: Sbarro
restaurant (Aug. 9, 2001), Moment Cafe (March 9, 2002), and triple suicide
bombing at Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall (Dec. 1, 2001).
Hassan Salameh - 38 life sentences. Was head of the terror infrastructure
which carried out 2 suicide bombing attacks on buses in Jerusalem (Feb. 25,
1996, March 3, 1996), and the suicide bombing at the Ashkelon Junction (Feb.
25, 1996).
Jamal Abu Al-Haija - 9 life sentences for involvement in suicide bombing
attacks in Hadera shopping mall (Oct. 26, 2005) and at Herzl Street in
Netanya (Dec. 5, 2005)
Mahmoud Issa - serving 3 life sentences. Member of the squad that kidnapped
and murdered Israeli soldiers, including Nissim Toledano (Dec. 13, 1992).
17. Official PA TV glorified terrorist Dalal Mughrabi to celebrate Fatah
anniversary
On the anniversary of the Fatah movement, PA TV chose to glorify the most
lethal terror attack in Israel's history with a music video celebrating
Dalal Mughrabi and the attack she led. The video shows a reenactment the
terrorists coming from Lebanon to Israel in boats.
[PA TV, Jan. 2, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin , January 21, 2011]
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=4483
18. Official PA TV honored the woman who drove a suicide terrorist to his
bombing that murdered 15 in pizza shop attack
PA TV broadcast a program honoring Ahlam Tamimi, the woman who drove the
suicide terrorist to the Sbarro pizza restaurant in Jerusalem in August
2001. 15 people were murdered in the attack, 7 of them children. Visiting
Tamimi's home, the PA TV crew interviewed her relatives, and the camera
focused on an award which read:
"A gift of the Fatah Palestinian National Liberation Movement
Ramallah - El-Bireh branch
To the heroic prisoner Ahlam Tamimi
As a token of esteem for your sacrifices
And your acts of heroism."
[PA TV, March 10, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, March 17, 2011]
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=4813
19. Official PA TV honored driver of suicide terrorist who murdered 19 on
bus
PA TV honored terrorist, Fahami Mashahra, who drove a suicide bomber to
Jerusalem in 2001 in which 19 were murdered. The PA TV host said to his
daughter:
"Greetings of honor and admiration to your heroic father in prison, Fahami
Mashahra, serving 20 life sentences in the occupation's prison. Thank you
very much."
[PA TV, March 4, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin , May 17, 2011]
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=4813
20. Advisor of Mahmoud Abbas: "The weapons must be turned towards the
main enemy [Israel]" and terrorist Dalal Mughrabi must be honored by naming
a square after her:
"Advisor of President Mahmoud Abbas Sabri Saidam, delivered a speech...
He emphasized that the weapons must be turned towards the main enemy
[Israel] and that internal differences of opinion must be set aside... and
emphasized that the anniversary of Dalal's Martyrdom-seeking (i.e., her
terror attack in which 37 civilians were murdered) should be amplified by
inaugurating a square in her name in the city of El-Bireh."
[Al-Ayyam, March 10, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin , March 13, 2011]
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=4793
21. Fatah movement lauded suicide bombers
"The Fatah movement commemorated at the Deheisheh [refugee] camp the
anniversary of some of the camp's Shahids (Martyrs)... The movement
organized a procession... [to] the home of the Shahid Muhammad Daraghmeh,
who carried out a bombing operation (i.e., suicide bombing which killed 9)
in Jerusalem... [and mentioned] Ayyat Al-Akhras (at age 17, the youngest
female suicide bomber, killed two Israelis in her suicide attack in March,
2002.)"
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 4, 2011]
22. PA TV repeatedly glorified terrorist who killed 3 teens, and another
who planned a suicide bombing
A PA TV video tribute to "Martyrs" that was broadcast on PA TV several times
a day for four days honored a terrorist who killed three Israelis and one
who recruited female suicide terrorists and planned a double suicide attack
in Tel Aviv. A photo collage in the same video tribute was labeled "Heroes
of the special operations in northern Palestine" which referred to terror
attacks in northern Israel. [PA TV, several times daily Feb. 21-24, 2011,
reported in PMW bulletin , March 13,
2011]http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=4794
23. US law prohibits using US funds to honor terrorists:
CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010: ASSISTANCE FOR THE WEST BANK AND
Gaza, SEC. 7039, (c) PROHIBITION ("1)
"None of the funds appropriated under titles III through VI of this Act for
assistance under the West Bank and Gaza Program may be made available for
the purpose of recognizing or otherwise honoring individuals who commit, or
have committed acts of terrorism."
Summary - the US funds the PA budget which pays terrorist salaries and
glorifies terrorists
24. The Palestinian Authority pays over $5,000,000 a month directly to
terrorists as salaries. In addition to the examples cited here, Palestinian
Media Watch has documented many other examples of the PA's honoring
terrorists and presenting them as heroes and role models. Still in 2011,
this glorification of terrorists is a mainstay of PA policy under Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas and PM Salam Fayyad, who as shown above are actively involved.
25. The US funds the PA's general budget. Through the PA budget the US is
paying the salaries of terrorist murderers in prison and funding the
glorification and role modeling of terrorists.
26. US law prohibits giving assistance "to or through any individual...
that the Secretary knows or has reason to believe advocates, plans,
sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in, terrorist activity..."
27. US law prohibits using US funds "for the purpose of recognizing or
otherwise honoring individuals who commit, or have committed acts of
terrorism."
Measuring Palestinian Authority
compliance with US anti-terror funding laws
In order to comply with US anti-terror funding laws there are clearly
defined and quantifiable steps that the Palestinian Authority should
implement:
1. The PA should repeal the law "PA Government resolutions, numbers 21
and 23 of 2010" which grants all terrorists in Israeli prisons a PA monthly
salary
2. The PA should stop paying salaries to terrorists in Israeli prisons
(as they have admitted to doing even before the law)
3. The PA should stop honoring and role modeling terrorists through
naming of places and events in their honor
4. The PA should stop having PA dignitaries and ministers visit
terrorists' homes and stop granting their families awards in their names
All of these steps can be implemented immediately and are easily monitored.
US LAW
CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010
(PUBLIC LAW 111-117-DEC. 16, 2009 page 3366)
ASSISTANCE FOR THE WEST BANK AND GAZA
SEC. 7039. (a) OVERSIGHT.-For fiscal year 2010, 30 days prior to the initial
obligation of funds for the bilateral West Bank and Gaza Program, the
Secretary of State shall certify to the Committees on Appropriations that
procedures have been established to assure the Comptroller General of the
United States will have access to appropriate United States financial
information in order to review the uses of United States assistance for the
Program funded under the heading "Economic Support Fund" for the West Bank
and Gaza.
(b) VETTING.-Prior to the obligation of funds appropriated by this Act under
the heading "Economic Support Fund" for assistance for the West Bank and
Gaza, the Secretary of State shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that
such assistance is not provided to or through any individual, private or
government entity, or educational institution that the Secretary knows or
has reason to believe advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged
in, terrorist activity nor, with respect to private entities or educational
institutions, those that have as a principal officer of the entity's
governing board or governing board of trustees any individual that has been
determined to be involved in, or advocating terrorist activity or determined
to be a member of a designated foreign terrorist organization: Provided,
That the Secretary of State shall, as appropriate, establish procedures
specifying the steps to be taken in carrying out this subsection and shall
terminate assistance to any individual, entity, or educational institution
which the Secretary has determined to be involved in or advocating terrorist
activity.
(c) PROHIBITION.-
(1) None of the funds appropriated under titles III through VI of this
Act for assistance under the West Bank and Gaza Program may be made
available for the purpose of recognizing or otherwise honoring individuals
who commit, or have committed acts of terrorism.
Palestinian Authority Sources
New PA law granting salaries to terrorists
The following is the article in the official PA daily quoting the new
Palestinian Authority law:
"[Ali Abu Diak,] Secretary of the Central Bureau of the Prisoners' Movement,
presented a concise review of the laws [concerning prisoners] published in
vol. 90 of the official PA [Government] Registry, published on April 13, as
follows:
1. Government resolution #19 of 2010...:
A released prisoner will be exempt from tuition fees at government schools
and universities if he served a period of five years or more in prison. A
released female prisoner who served at least three years in prison will be
exempt from tuition fees at government schools and universities. These
prisoners are entitled to transfer the exemption to one of their children,
or to their spouse...
The Palestinian Authority is committed to providing the opportunity for
academic study for prisoners in Israeli prisons, by covering all study
expenses for all stages of university study available to prisoners.
A prisoner's children will be exempt from 80% of academic tuition fees if
the prisoner was sentenced to at least 20 years and has been in prison for
at least 5 years. Children of a female prisoner will be exempt from 80% of
university tuition fees if the prisoner was sentenced to at least 10 years,
and has served as least 3 years.
Every released prisoner will be exempt from governmental health insurance if
he served at least 5 years in prison, and for female prisoners - at least 3
years. ...
2. Government resolution #21 of 2010, concerning the amendment to provide
for the needs of prisoners within Israeli prisons:
a. Every prisoner will be paid a uniform sum linked to the cost of living
index, as a monthly expenditure ...
b. Every prisoner will be paid a uniform sum of 400 [Israeli] Shekels for
clothing. The sum will be paid twice a year, and will be added to the
prisoner's salary...
3. Government resolution # 22 of 2010, concerning the amendment to provide
for the prisoners' legal needs...
4. Government resolution # 23 of 2010 concerning the amendment on payment of
a monthly salary to the prisoner:
Every prisoner will be granted a monthly salary, to be paid to him or to his
family, on condition that he does not receive a salary from a [different]
governmental or semi-governmental body or official institution... The salary
will be paid to the prisoner from the date of his arrest, and a special
supplement will be paid to prisoners from Jerusalem and from the Interior
[i.e., Israeli Arabs]; a spousal supplement will be paid, and a special
supplement for children up to the age of 18...
The minimum salary for a prisoner, to be paid to him from the beginning of
his detention and for up to 3 years, is 1400 Shekels. Prisoners who have
been imprisoned between 3 and 5 years will receive 2,000 Shekels. Those
imprisoned between 5 and 10 years will receive 4,000 Shekels. Those
imprisoned between 10 and 15 years will receive 6,000 Shekels. Those
imprisoned between 15 and 20 years will receive 7,000 Shekels. Those
imprisoned between 20 and 25 years will receive 8,000 Shekels. Those
imprisoned between 25 and 30 years will receive 10,000 Shekels. Those who
have been imprisoned 30 years or more will receive 12,000 Shekels.
A supplement of 300 Shekels will be added to the salary of every married
prisoner, as well as a supplement for children up to the age of 18 in the
amount of 50 Shekels for every boy or girl, in addition to a supplement for
prisoners from Jerusalem in the amount of 300 Shekels, and a supplement for
prisoners from the Interior [i.e., Israeli Arabs] in the amount of 500
Shekels ...
These regulations will be implemented from Jan. 1, 2011, on the basis of
available sources of funding."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 15, 2011]
PA Salaries from the general budget in May 2011
"An official document, a copy of which reached Life and the Market
(supplement to the official PA daily), reveals that the cost of salaries [in
the PA budget] is much higher than people think. According to the document,
the sum of monthly salaries for May 2011 totaled 727,287,824 Shekel
($214,412,683.96 USD), paid from the treasury of the [Palestinian] National
Authority...
The document shows that the largest portion of the salaries' expense - more
than 40% - was paid to civil servants. A total of 293,435,045 Shekel was
paid to 101,802 civil servants, about three quarters of them in the West
Bank. The average salary for a civil servant in the Palestinian Authority is
2882 NIS...
The military personnel of the Palestinian Authority occupy second place -
24% - in the cost of salaries, with a total of 172,873,226 NIS.
Surprisingly, the Gaza Strip represents more than 55% of the total cost of
salaries of military personnel. The average salary for members of the PA
military personnel is 2704 NIS...
The PA transfers about 7% of the cost of salaries overseas, in the form of
salaries to personnel at consulates and the Palestine National Fund, foreign
fronts, and PLO forces and institutions, in the amount of 51,872,446 NIS.
As for the prisoners (i.e., in Israeli prisons), they receive approximately
2.5% of the cost of salaries [for May], in the form of salaries and
[additional] payments, totaling 17,678,247 Shekel ($5,211,747).
Taking care of families of Shahids (Martyrs), inside and outside [the PA],
totals about 3.5% of the total cost of salaries [for May], in the amount of
26,458,137 NIS.
The West Bank received the majority of the payments and salaries to
prisoners, while the Gaza Strip receives a greater portion of the budget for
assistance to Shahids' families. The average prisoner salary is 3129 NIS...
Salaries for members of the inactive Parliament (Legislative Council) [which
has not been meeting since the Fatah-Hamas conflict] totaled approximately
0.5% of the cost of salaries - 3,272,316 NIS."
[Life and the Market, supplement to Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 19, 2011]
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