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Ex-IDF Officer: Time to Stop PA Terror and Martyr Payments
(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - Israel should ask the U.S. to help stop Palestinian Authority payments to terrorists and their families, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs said on Tuesday. "One of the things that we should ask of the Americans is to lead an effort among donors to the Palestinian Authority - and set an example itself - not to pay money to terrorists." The U.S. and other donor states need to "prevent a situation where American money is being used for terrorism against Israel, and also against Americans who have been killed in attacks." The PA pays around $300 million every year "as salaries to Palestinian terrorists in Israeli jails, continuing after they are released, and to the families of dead terrorists and other Palestinians who died fighting against Zionism." This amounts to more than 20% of the annual foreign aid to the PA. "The salaries are guaranteed in advance to the terrorists and their families, thus making the Palestinian Authority solicitors of terrorism activities and directly responsible for them." Israel must clarify to the international community that in spite of its interest in the existence of the PA and in promoting peace with the Palestinians, "it is not going to tolerate the ongoing Palestinian support and solicitation of terrorism." Kuperwasser is former director-general of Israel's Strategic Affairs Ministry and former head of the Research Division of IDF Military Intelligence.