Official PA daily: PMW "incites" against the PA Following PMW's reports that terrorist prisoners receive PA salaries, PA Min. Karake defends the prisoners as "lawful freedom fighters"

The official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, accused Palestinian Media Watch of "inciting" against the PA, saying that PMW is trying to cut off the PA's sources of Western funding. 

"'Palestinian Media Watch' [is] a Jewish organization that incites [against the PA] and speaks about Palestinian Authority aid to prisoners, describing it as support for terrorists, in order to stop financial support to the PA."

This was reported together with Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake's response to PMW reports documenting that the PA pays salaries to prisonersimprisoned in Israel for terror crimes.

Responding to PMW's reports, Minister Karake has maintained that the payments to prisoners are "humanitarian welfare assistance" to the prisoners' families and children, and that this aid is "a national, humanitarian, and moral obligation being fulfilled by the PA."

On one occasion the Minister has stated that the prisoners are"lawful freedom fighters who fought for the right of their cause and for the freedom and independence of their people." On another occasion, he said that the PA "will not abandon our prisoner sons or their families, for they are fighters who resisted the occupation's oppression."

Karake made the last comment while visiting the families of the following prisoners, who are all serving life sentences in Israel for their involvement in suicide terrorists' bombings:

Ibrahim Sarahneh - an Israeli Arab resident of the Deheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem. He drove three suicide bombers to their attacks. With his wife Irena Sarahneh, he drove a suicide bomber to his attack in Rishon LeZion in 2002 that killed two and injured many. With his brother Musa Sarahneh, he drove a female suicide bomber to a supermarket in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat HaYovel, where she killed two people. With his brother Khalil Sarahneh, he drove a suicide bomber who killed a policeman in Jerusalem in 2002.

Ashraf Hajajreh drove a suicide bomber who killed 11 people to his attack in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem in 2002.

Earlier this year, Karake referred to the Palestinian prisoners in Israel as "prisoners of war and as legitimate fighters," when he explained that the aim of the International Conference for Prisoners under the auspices of the Arab League in December is to secure "recognition of prisoners in the occupation's prisons as prisoners of war and as legitimate fighters."

The Israeli government and many Western governments view Palestinian suicide bombings as terror and completely reject the PA view that those responsible for suicide bombings are "freedom fighters." PMW has reported to Western governments that even terrorists like Abdullah Barghouti, who is serving 67 life sentences for planning many suicide bombings, are receiving high monthly PA salaries. This has led to discussion in various parliaments about the justification for Western funding of the PA's general budget, which pays these salaries.  

Karake is now responding to these PMW reports about the salaries to prisoners, which are causing the PA damage internationally. Karake is claiming that they are not salaries for the prisoners but social welfare for the families. 

Documenting original PA sources, PMW reports show that the PA's payments to prisoners are in fact salaries and not social welfare:

1. The Palestinian Authority is currently paying salaries totaling approximately 17,500,000 shekels each month to all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, including mass murderers.
2. The word used in the PA law is Ratib (راتب) - salary; the law never mentions "social assistance" or "welfare."
3. The amount of the salary rises based on number of years in prison, an amount related to the severity of the terror crime and not family need.
4. Unmarried terrorists receive the same basic salary as those who are married and have children.
5. A separate small stipend is given to married prisoners with children. The average prisoner salary is over 3,000 shekels a month and can reach as high as 12,000 a month for those in prison more than 30 years. The additional stipend for a married prisoner is 300 shekels and a mere 50 shekels per child.  
6. The terrorist prisoner is the only one who can appoint an "authorized agent" to handle his money when he is in prison. He is not obligated to give it to his wife, children, or parents.

PMW documents the PA's policy of glorifying terrorists.

The following are two recent articles reporting on Minister Karake's response to PMW's reports, one given while visiting the homes of terrorists who drove suicide bombers to their attacks:

"The Minister for Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake, said... 'Israel carries out political and media incitement internationally in order to stop the financial aid to the Palestinian Authority because it supports families and children of Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in the occupation's prisons.' Karake responded to an article in the British Daily Mail that quoted the organization 'Palestinian Media Watch', a Jewish organization that incites [against the PA] and speaks about Palestinian Authority aid to prisoners, describing it as support for terrorists, in order to stop financial support to the PA. Karake explained that Israel is trying to deny the legitimacy of the prisoners' national struggle, to punish their children and families, and to lay a financial siege on the PA, in an attempt at political blackmail... Karake explained that the biased Israeli campaign is intended to put political pressure on President Abbas and deter him from applying to the UN for recognition of Palestine as a non-member state, through financial pressure on the PA. He added: 'We will not abandon our prisoner sons or their families, for they are fighters who resisted the occupation's oppression. Instead of freeing them as a basic step in a process to achieve a just settlement and regional peace, Israel persists in its attempt to damage the image of the prisoners and the Palestinian national struggle in the eyes of the international community.' Karake and those accompanying him visited the families of Ramzi Abu-Zirr who was sentenced to 18 years; brothers Ibrahim, Musa, and Khalil Sarahneh who were sentenced to life imprisonment, Ashraf Hajajreh who was sentenced to life in prison, Adnan Al-Afandi who was sentenced to 30 years, Rizq Salah who was sentenced to life in prison, and Issa Abd Rabbo who was sentenced to life in prison."

[Al-Ayyam, Oct. 30, 2012]

Information about some of the terrorists whose families PA Minister Karake visited:

Ibrahim Sarahneh - an Israeli Arab resident of the Deheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem. He drove three suicide bombers to their attacks.

With his wife Irena Sarahneh, he drove a suicide bomber to his attack in Rishon LeZion in 2002 that killed two and injured many.

With his brother Musa Sarahneh, he drove a female suicide bomber to a supermarket in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat HaYovel where she killed two people.

With his brother Khalil Sarahneh, he drove a suicide bomber who killed a policeman in Jerusalem in 2002.

Ashraf Hajajreh drove the suicide bomber who killed 11 people in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem in 2002.  

"The Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake... said that recent Israeli incitement in the media against aid to families of prisoners held in the occupation's prisons is part of a policy of Israeli incitement against the National [Palestinian] Authority, President Mahmoud Abbas, and the prisoners in the occupation's prisons.  It is intended to tighten the siege on the Palestinian Authority and discontinue foreign aid to it. Karake spoke in response to a recent Israeli TV Channel 2 report on aid to prisoners, (Israeli TV Channel 2 reported on PMW's first report on PA salaries to terrorist prisoners. - Ed.) and the accusation of the Palestinian government of 'supporting terrorists'... In addition, Karake explained that aid to prisoners is humanitarian welfare assistance, just like social insurance in all countries, including Israel, to help those in any society who have been hurt and experienced tragedy... Karake said: 'The prisoners and their families are victims of the occupation, and from the Palestinian Authority's inception, its laws have mandated aid to their children. And Israel knows about these laws that were passed by the Palestinian Parliament years ago.' Karake said that aid to prisoners' and Martyrs' (Shahids) families is a national, humanitarian, and moral obligation being fulfilled by the PA, and he said that the prisoners are lawful freedom fighters (i.e., "lawful combatants") who fought for the right of their cause and for the freedom and independence of their people. In addition Karake said: 'The Israeli executioner has no right to kill his victim twice, and we will not allow him to do so. All prisoners must be released, since they are victims of the most prolonged occupation in modern history. This occupation still commits the most heinous violations [of the rights] of our prisoners, violations that defy international law and the principles of human rights. And Israel is behaving like a country above the law."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sept. 6, 2012]

Minister Karake on prisoners "as prisoners of war":

Headline: "To be held in Iraq under auspices of the Arab League, Karake: The International Conference for Prisoners will focus on recognition of Palestinian detainees as prisoners of war"

"Karake said that the conference to be held under the auspices of the Arab League on Dec. 10-11, 2012, will focus on the request for support and pressure towards securing recognition of prisoners in the occupation's prisons as prisoners of war and as legitimate fighters."

[Al-Ayyam, Aug. 12, 2012

6% of PA budget pays terrorists and their families

I've been reporting this for years, but finally Israeli journalists have added up the numbers.

Despite the Palestinian Authority’s financial hardships, it spends tens of millions of shekels each month paying salaries to prisoners held in Israeli jails for security offenses and acts of terrorism against Israel — including mass murderers — and last year Prime Minister Salam Fayyad tripled their monthly pay. The PA also pays monthly stipends to the families of suicide bombers.

Payments are made not only to members of Fatah, the political faction of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, but also to those of his bitter Islamist rivals from Hamas, and other factions.

As of May 2011, the PA spent NIS 18 million ($4.5 million) per month on compensating Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons and a further NIS 26 million ($6.5 million) on payments to families of suicide bombers. In all, such payments cost the PA some 6 percent of its overall budget, Israel’s Channel 2 news reported on Monday night, citing documentation signed by Fayyad.

The PA also makes payments to Israeli Arabs jailed for security offenses against Israel, the report said.

Starting in 2003, Palestinian law mandated the dispensation of a monthly salary of NIS 1,000 ($250) to security detainees sentenced to up to five years in prison. The longer the sentence, the higher the pay. An inmate serving a life sentence was paid NIS 4,000 ($1,000) per month.

An amendment of the law in January 2011 enacted by Fayyad increased the salaries by up to 300%, Channel 2 reported.

A prisoner sentenced up to three years in prison now receives a base salary of NIS 1,400 per month, and for 3-5 years that rate increases to NIS 2,000, the report said. A NIS 300 bonus is added for a wife, and NIS 50 per child.

According to the Channel 2 report, the PA-funded salaries are an equal opportunity benefit; members of Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad all receive them.

Prisoners’ salaries also increase based on how many years they have served. Abdullah Barghouti, a Hamas bomb-maker who was sentenced in 2004 to 67 life terms for orchestrating the killings of 67 Israelis, receives a monthly stipend of NIS 4,000. In less than a year that figure will rise to NIS 6,000 ($1,500).

Another major Hamas terrorist figure, Abbas al-Sayyeed, convicted of planning the 2002 Park Hotel massacre, in which 30 Israeli civilians were killed as they sat down for a Passover meal, is paid NIS 12,000 ($3,000) per month.

Prisoners who have sat more than 30 years in Israeli prison receive NIS 12,000 per month.

The original Channel 2 report adds that prisoners who are married get an extra 300 shekels every month, plus 50 shekels per month per child.

Again, this has been known for years, but I have never seen the Western donors to the PA - who claim that their funds are being spent transparently - ever ask a single question about this. Even when the PA is sliding deeper and deeper into debt and asking for more and more money.

Perhaps it is time to send this article to members of the EU parliament and US members of Congress.

And while people are looking, I once found evidence that as much as $600 million of the PA budget actually goes to pay for security in Gaza - meaning Hamas terrorist salaries. This dwarfs the amount paid to prisoners and terrorist families. Where's the transparency there?

Your tax dollars at work: Abu Mazen pays grants to released terrorists

'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen's 'Palestinian Authority,' which is almost entirely financed by Western aid money, has decided to paygrants to 'Palestinian' terrorists released by Israel in the terrorists for Gilad exchange.

[PA Minister for Prisoners Affairs Issa] Qaraqi said that all prisoners would benefit from the grants, including those who were deported to the Gaza Strip and a number of Arab countries and Turkey.

He said that the PA governors and some "national institutions" have begun distributing the money to the released prisoners In accordance with PA regulations and laws.

Qaraqi did not say how much each prisoner would get from the PA government.

Abbas's decision follows a similar move by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who granted each prisoner a sum of $2,000.

The prisoners who were deported to the Gaza Strip are now staying at a five-star hotel at the expense of the Hamas government.

In other news, Hamas has announced that it will kidnap more IDF soldiers and officers, because this kidnapping has proven so successful. Meanwhile, David Meidan, who was Prime Minister Netanyahu's last negotiator for Gilad Shalit's freedom, will meet with the Shamgar Commission, which after three years may finally issue recommendations about how many terrorists we will release in exchange for soldiers kidnapped in the future. As if anyone expects those guidelines to be followed.

Read the whole thing.

PMW presents report in British Parliament: British funding and Palestinian Authority glorification of terrorists and payment of salaries to terrorists

In April 2011, the PA signed and published a law in the official Palestinian Authority Registry which put all Palestinians and Israeli Arabs imprisoned in Israel for terror crimes on the PA payroll to receive a monthly salary from the PA.

In addition, the PA honors terrorists who have killed civilians, presenting them as heroes and role models and glorifies terror attacks as heroic, including suicide bombings.

The PA funds these salaries and activities from its general budget.

In 2010, according to PA news reports, Britain contributed £90 million to the PA general budget. Britain has committed to continue its contributions to the PA with £86 million per year until 2015.

In July this year, the British International Development Minister signed aMemorandum of Understanding with PA Prime Minister Fayyad. A press release from the British Department for International Development explained part of the memorandum:

"The Memorandum of Understanding highlights the PAs commitment to non-violence and a negotiated two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict..." [http://www.dfid.gov.uk]

Palestinian Media Watch director Itamar Marcus presented these and other findings on Tuesday in British Parliament, documenting the connection between British funding and PA glorification of terrorists and payment of their salaries. Read the full report below or in pdf.

---

Palestinian Authority glorification

 of terrorists and payment of salaries

to terrorists and British funding

By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik

-------------------------------------------------------

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

-------------------------------------------------------

British funding of the Palestinian Authority:

-    In 2010, according to PA news reports, Britain contributed £90 million to the PA general budget.
-    Britain committed to contribute £86 million per year to the PA until 2015
 

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 (£3,000,000) 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 Shekel
Military personnel	2,704 Shekel
Prisoner	3,129 Shekel

[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 Britain and other foreign donors to the PA general budget that facilitates the payment of monthly salaries to the terrorist prisoners.

PA's Honoring Terrorists - Essential Facts:

7.    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:

8.    PA TV honors terrorists involved in suicide bombing that killed 15
PA TV program In a Fighter's Home sent special greetings and praise to terrorist Ahlam Tamimi, who planned a bombing and escorted the suicide bomber by foot through Jerusalem to the Sbarro pizza shop in August 2001. 15 people were murdered in the attack, 7 of them children. The program also visited the home of terrorist Muhammad Wael Daghlas, who planned the attack and sent the suicide bomber. [PA TV, Aug. 10, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, Sept. 4, 2011,http://bit.ly/nowmNF , http://bit.ly/oKDiBK ]

9.    PA TV continues to glorify most lethal terror attack in Israeli history
In 1978, a group of terrorists led by Dalal Mughrabi sailed from Lebanon to Israel to carry out a terror attack. They hijacked a bus and killed 37 Israeli civilians, 12 of them children. On the anniversary of the Fatah movement, PA TV chose to glorify the terror attack with a music video celebrating Mughrabi and the attack she led. The video shows a reenactment of the terrorists coming from Lebanon to Israel in boats. PA TV rebroadcast the video, which describes the terrorists as having "no fear of death or the darkness of prison," and glorifies Mughrabi's death: "On the coast [Dalal] Mughrabi's blood was shed, the color of [red] coral on [white] lemon flowers." [PA TV, Jan. 2, Aug. 24, and Sept. 4, 2011, reported in PMW bulletins, January 21 and Aug. 29, 2011, http://bit.ly/q4KMFs , http://bit.ly/qRb497 ,http://bit.ly/o24M4F ]

10.    PA TV honors terrorist involved in 3 attacks that killed 51
PA TV program For You honored terrorist prisoner Salim Hajja, by visiting his family. Hajja is serving 16 life sentences for involvement in three suicide bombings that killed a total of 51 people. Hajja's mother-in-law expresses the hope that Hajja's son Omar will be a "hero" like his father. The son, Omar, says, "Daddy is a hero. I am very proud of him." [PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 11, 2011]

11.    Abbas representative honors terrorist planner of attack that killed 11
Amin Al-Hindi was a senior planner of the murder of 11 Israeli athletes in the Munich Olympics in 1972. Abdallah Al-Ifranji, special representative of President Mahmoud Abbas, honored Al-Hindi by laying a wreath on his grave on the anniversary of his death. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 18, 2011]

12.    PA TV honors planner of suicide bombing that killed 14
Program For You honored prisoners Abd Al-Rahman and Abdallah Al-Wahsh, by visiting their homes in Jenin. Abdallah Al-Wahsh was active in Islamic Jihad, and sent a suicide bomber to an attack in 2002, killing 14. Abd Al-Rahman was a leader of the Jerusalem Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, and was involved in terror attacks. [PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 18, 2011]

13.    PA TV honors terrorist prisoner with visit to her family
PA TV program In a Fighter's Home honored terrorist prisoner Rima Daragmeh by visiting her family together with the PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake. Daragmeh was involved in enlisting the woman who carried out a suicide bombing in Afula in 2003, and was arrested while intending to carry out a suicide bombing. [PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 16, 2011]

14.    Presidential gift awarded to family of terrorist who planned suicide bombing
Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake, and the District Governor of Hebron, Kamel Hamid, honored terrorist prisoner Al-Sharbati, presenting his family with a presidential gift from Mahmoud Abbas. Al-Sharbati was a senior member of Tanzim, a military wing of Fatah, and was involved in planning a suicide bombing in Jerusalem. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 8, 2011]

15.    PA TV honors planner of suicide bombing with visit to his home
PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake, and District Governor of Hebron, Kamel Hamid again honored terrorist prisoner Yasser Al-Sharbati, with a visit to his family on the PA TV program In a Fighter's Home. As stated, Al-Sharbati was involved in planning a suicide bombing in Jerusalem. [PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 15, 2011]

16.    PA TV honors female suicide bomber with visit to her mother
PA TV program The Best Mothers interviewed the mother of female suicide bomber Darin Abu Aisheh, who carried out a terror attack in 2002, wounding 3 Israelis. The program shows a poster of Abu Aisheh displayed in the mother's home, describing her as "the heroic Martyrdom-seeker." [PA TV, Aug. 3, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, Aug. 10, 2011, http://bit.ly/nfoAXm , http://bit.ly/pmjTLH ]

17.    PA TV honors terrorist "Martyr" with visit to his mother
PA TV program The Best Mothers interviewed the mother of a bomb maker from Fatah's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, named Yusuf Shaker Al-Asi. PA TV included in the edited feature a poem and a poster of the bomb maker with an inscription praising Martyrdom for Allah. [PA TV, Aug. 2, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, Aug. 18, 2011, http://bit.ly/pTSfSh , http://bit.ly/mUZVK8 ]

18.    PA TV honors terrorist who killed 30 with visit to his home
PA TV program In a Fighter's Home visits the home of prisoner Anas Jaradat, who served as head of the Islamic Jihad in Jenin and was responsible for bringing 3 car bombs into Israel, killing nearly 30 Israelis. Secretary of the Fatah branch in Jenin, Ata Abu Ramila, referred to Jaradat on the program as "the heroic Jihad-figher prisoner" and expressed his pride in "all the heroic prisoners." [PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 3, 2011, http://bit.ly/pvbdJ3 ]

19.    PA TV glorifies terrorist who killed 3 with visit to his home
PA TV program In a Fighter's Home visits the home of prisoner Amer Abu Sarhan, convicted of stabbing 3 Israelis to death in 1990. The District Governor of Bethlehem refers to Sarhan as "the heroic prisoner" and says, "We honor him greatly... To all his fellow prisoners - the brave and heroic who are resolute in Ribat(i.e., religious conflict/war), to the glorious female prisoners in the occupation's prisons - we salute you [and express our] utmost appreciation and pride." [PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 2, 2011, http://bit.ly/oQlYrg ]

20.    PA TV rebroadcasts video presenting female terrorist as role model
PA TV repeatedly broadcast a video honoring terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, referring to her as a symbol of "Martyrdom" and "victory over enmity." Dalal Mughrabi led a bus hijacking in 1978, killing 37 Israeli civilians, 12 of them children.  [PA TV (Fatah), May - July, 2011, twice weekly, Nov. - Dec., 2010 weekly, reported in PMW bulletin, Aug. 29, 2011, http://bit.ly/qRb497 , http://bit.ly/pny4wn ]

21.    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://bit.ly/oVzT5o ]

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.

22.    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://bit.ly/gM4Fo5 ]

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.

23.    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, http://bit.ly/ntSTqn ]

24.    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://bit.ly/dUzjPa]

25.    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, http://bit.ly/jgbfME]

26.    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-Jadida, April 18, 2011, reported in PMW bulletin, May 19, 2011, http://bit.ly/jgbfME] 

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.

27.    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).

28.    Official PA TV honored the woman who led a suicide terrorist to his bombing that murdered 15 in pizza shop attack
PA TV broadcast a program honoring Ahlam Tamimi, the woman who planned and led 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://bit.ly/eqrs91]

29.    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, March 17, 2011, http://bit.ly/eqrs91, http://bit.ly/qPanf9]

30.    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://bit.ly/fFcweP]  

31.     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]

32.    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://bit.ly/mWDIg4]

Britain has funded the PA budget

which pays terrorist salaries and glorifies terrorists

33.    The Palestinian Authority pays over £3,000,000 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.

34.    In 2010, according to PA news reports, Britain gave £90 million to the PA general budget. [Al-Ayyam, February 11, 2010, Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, October 28, 2010]

35.    In coming years, Britain is planning to continue supporting the PA. 
UK Dept. of International Development: "We will spend an average of £86 million per year in the Occupied Palestinian Territories until 2015."http://www.dfid.gov.uk/OPT

36.    When Britain allocates funding to the PA general budget, it is participating in paying the salaries of terrorists in prison and funding the glorification of terrorists.

37.    In a July 2011 agreement with the UK, the PA committed to non-violence

DFID (Department for International Development) 07 July 2011, press release:
"The International Development Minister set out the plans for the next four years during a visit to the OPTs, where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Prime Minister Fayyad of the Palestinian National Authority (PA)...
The Memorandum of Understanding highlights the PAs commitment to non-violence and a negotiated two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as well as their pledge to respect human rights and international obligations and deliver clean and accountable governance in the OPTs. It also links part of the funding to the PA to improvements in delivering value for money."  http://www.dfid.gov.uk/OPT

Palestinian Authority actions to assure that British

funding not go to terrorists or their glorification

In order to assure that British funding does not go to terrorists or their glorification, 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.

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 (£123,393,581), 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 Shekel...

The military personnel of the Palestinian Authority occupy second place - 24% - in the cost of salaries, with a total of 172,873,226 Shekel. 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 Shekel ...

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 Shekel.
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 (£3,000,000).
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 Shekel. 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 Shekel... 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 Shekel."

[Life and the Market, supplement to Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 19, 2011]

PMW: PA to pay salaries to all terrorists in Israeli prisons; Financial aid from many donor countries goes directly to PA budget from which salaries are paid

A law published in the official Palestinian Authority Registry last month grants all Palestinians and Israeli Arabs imprisoned in Israel for terror crimes a monthly salary from the PA. The Arabic word the PA uses for this payment is "ratib," meaning "salary." Palestinian Media Watch has reported numerous times on Palestinian Authorityglorification of terrorists serving time in Israeli prisons. Following the signing of this new law, the PA is now paying a salary to these prisoners. 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] In other words, all Palestinians in Israeli prisons for terror crimes officially join the PA payroll. According to the definition in the PA law, Palestinian car thieves in Israeli prisons will not receive a salary, but Hamas and Fatah terrorist murderers will. The PA also gives a salary to Israeli Arabs convicted of terror crimes against Israel - the country of which they are citizens. PA benefits to Israeli Arab terrorists, in fact, are greater than the ones extended to Palestinian terrorists. Those serving more than 20-year sentences will receive a greater PA salary than prisoners serving shorter sentences, the new PA law establishes. Salaries are to be paid from the day of arrest until release. More than 6,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently serving time in Israeli prisons for terror-related offenses. Among those now eligible are Abdullah Barghouti, serving 67 life sentences; Hassan Salameh, serving 38 life sentences; and Jamal Abu Al-Hijja, serving nine life sentences, all of whom are imprisoned for planning suicide  bombings. These three terrorists were recently called "heroic" by the official PA daily (see full article below.) Funding by donor nations could enable payment of salaries to terrorists The new PA law stipulates that payment of salaries "will be implemented... on the basis of available sources of funding." Accordingly, when the PA is short of cash for salaries, the salaries to the prisoners will be cut. The PA has reported that the US, the EU, France, Britain, Ireland, Norway, Japan, India and the World Bank have all given money to the PA for its general budget in 2010-2011 (see donor country chart with amounts below). Such direct funding could be part of the "available sources" for terrorist salaries, or could free money elsewhere in the PA budget that could be used for these salaries. The list is not exclusive as it relies solely on reports in the official PA daily. The PA receives financial aid from many other donors as well. Recently, the EU announced the transfer of 45 million euros to the PA for salaries: "Some EUR 45 million of the funds from today's decision will go towards salaries and pensions of vital workers, mainly doctors, nurses and teachers."   [http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_11009_en.htm   Accessed May 9, 2011] In November 2010, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the transfer of an additional grant to the PA's general budget:   "After the transfer of the $150 million, the sum which the American administration will have transferred as direct budgetary aid to the PA for 2010 totals $225 million."   [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 11, 2010] Although the EU, US and other donors are not intentionally funding salaries for terrorists, their funding of other PA salaries and the budget makes money available in the general budget to pay terrorist salaries. This Palestinian Authority law was enacted before the recent Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement. It was published in the official PA Registry on April 13, 2011. The purpose of the PA salary: 1- A monthly salary to the prisoners while in prison "to provide for the needs of prisoners within Israeli prisons" 2- Additional benefits for released prisoners 3- Additional benefits for prisoners' families 4- Additional clause mandates funding "for the prisoners' legal needs" Recipients: All prisoners involved in terror: - All prisoners no matter what their crime or what their political/terror group affiliation receive the same monthly base salaries from the PA. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners serve multiple life-sentences for murder. They all now receive a PA salary. - The salary goes directly to the terrorist or the terrorist's family. - The prisoners receive their salary from the time of arrest. Additional salary: - Married prisoners receive additional pay, as well as those with children. - Arabs from Jerusalem and Israeli Arabs who are imprisoned for terror offenses, get an additional supplement of 300 Israeli Shekels (NIS) and 500 NIS respectively. Funding: - The PA law stipulates that the salaries are dependent on the PA having available cash. The following is the article in the PA daily describing the new 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] List of donor countries who contribute to PA's general budget The list includes only those contributions reported in the PA press, and which were designated to the PA's general budget in 2010 or 2011. The list does not include the many other contributions made to the PA by these and other donor countries:

Donor Amount Source European Union 158.5 million euros Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, January 20, 2010 Britain 60 million British pounds Al-Ayyam, February 11, 2010 India 10 million dollars Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, April 26, 2010 Norway 53 million dollars Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, June 18, 2010 France 19 million euros Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, June 22, 2010 World Bank 40 million dollars Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, October 1, 2010 Japan 18.5 million dollars Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, October 25, 2010 European Union 41.4 million euros Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, October 28, 2010 Britain 30 million British pounds Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, October 28, 2010 United States 225 million dollars Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, November 11, 2010 Ireland 1.5 million euros Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, November 15, 2010 Japan 11.9 million dollars Al-Hayat Al- Jadida, December 28, 2010

The following is the report in the official PA daily calling prisoners "heroic": "Family members of prisoners expressed heartfelt thanks to the directorate and staff of Voice of the Prisoners Radio, via the program 'On Birds' Wings', which is broadcast on Voice of the Prisoners. This [thanks] was due to the significant positive effect [of the station] on the mental state of the prisoners and their families, and especially the family members of prisoners who are not allowed visits. The families of the prisoners told the Prisoners' Centre for Studies that Voice of the Prisoners, [at] FM 107.9, represents an extremely important struggle and breaks the will of the prison guard in the face of the determination of the Palestinian people, which invents all methods of resistance, first and foremost the role of the media, considering the occupation's violations against the prisoners, and especially the withholding of visits for more than four years. The families of prisoners in solitary confinement, first and foremost the family of the prisoner Commander Ahmad Sa'adat, andthe heroic prisoners Abbas and Abdallah Barghouti, Mahmoud Issa, Jamal Abu Al-Haija, Hassan Salameh and others, said that their sons wait for the program 'On Birds' Wings'."  [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 13, 2011]  Abdallah Barghouti - sentenced to 67 life sentences for involvement in terror attacks in which 66 Israelis were murdered - Sbarro restaurant (Aug. 9, 2001), Moment Café (March 9, 2002), and the triple attack at the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall (Dec. 1, 2001).  Jamal Abu Al-Hijja - 9 life sentences for involvement in suicide attacks in Hadera shopping mall (Oct. 26, 2005) and at Herzl Street in Netanya (Dec. 5, 2005) Hassan Salameh - 38 life sentences. Was head of the terror infrastructure which carried out 2 attacks on no. 18 buses in Jerusalem (First attack on Feb. 25, 1996. Second attack on March 3, 1996), and the attack at the Ashkelon Junction hitchhike point (Feb. 25, 1996). Mahmoud Issa - serving 3 life sentences. Member of the squad that kidnapped and murdered Israeli soldiers, including Nissim Toledano (Dec. 13, 1992). PMW has not been able to find any information concerning Abbas Barghouti.    Excerpt from EU's announcement of additional aid to the PA:  "EU Commission approves additional € 85 million in support for Palestinian people in 2011" "Summary: The European Commission has today decided to provide an additional financial package worth EUR 85 million for the occupied Palestinian territory under the 2011 budget. This comes in addition to the € 100 million already approved from European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. ... Some EUR 45 million of the funds from today's decision will go towards salaries and pensions of vital workers, mainly doctors, nurses and teachers. A further EUR 40 million will be allocated for social allowances to vulnerable Palestinian families. These funds come in addition to the EUR 60 million provided to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the EUR 40 million provided to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) at the beginning of the year. At the request of Prime Minister Fayyad these funds have been advanced by an accelerated procedure in order to meet the Authority's urgent financial needs and to respect the EU's commitment to being a regular and reliable donor." [http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_11009_en.htm   Accessed May 9, 2011]