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Source: http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new-york/trial-provides-glimpse-pa-funding-terrorists
Trial Provides Glimpse into PA Funding for Terrorists
(New York Jewish Week) Stewart Ain - Monday's decision by a Manhattan federal jury ordering the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to pay $655.5 million in damages for their part in terror attacks came after six weeks of testimony that shined a light on how the PA used financial rewards to encourage suicide bombings in Israel. Expert witnesses, among them Israel Shrenzel, a former supervisor in the Israel Security Agency, testified that there were "close links" between the PA and the Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigade, the group that carried out the attacks. "All of them get paid by the PA," he said. "Some of them get promotions and the promotions are very impressive. Two of them are colonels." Evidence was presented showing that one suicide bomber, Wafa Idris, obtained the bomb she used from Arafat's compound at the Mukata in Ramallah. Evidence was presented showing that terrorists who were arrested and convicted continued to receive their salaries - and even promotions - as PA employees. And the families of those killed in those attacks received what were called "martyrs" payments. Kent Yalowitz, an attorney for the victims, argued that this practice of payments in effect says: "Come on, we'll put you on the payroll when you commit a crime, and the longer you're in jail the more money we will pay you."