Top Palestinian official says ‘crazy’ to stop payments to terrorists

Senior Palestinian Authority official rejected any thought of ceasing payments to Palestinian terrorists in prison. 

Senior official on foreign affairs to Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Sha’ath referred to President Donald Trump’s request for the PA to cease payments to imprisoned terrorists and their families as a “crazy” request.

“Can we demand that the Israeli government stop paying the soldiers of the Israeli army?” Sha’ath asked rhetorically to Israel Radio. Sha’ath also claimed that such a demand is intended to destroy the peace process between the PA and Israel, and that the prisoners were victims of an “occupation.”

During a joint press conference with Trump on Wednesday, Abbas claimed Palestinian children are raised in a “culture of peace.”

“I affirm to you that we are raising our youth, our children, our grandchildren in a culture of peace,” Abbas said, notwithstanding the anti-Israel hate and incitement to violence that exists in Palestinian schools, media, and cultural events.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu completely dismissed Abbas’ remarks while meeting on Thursday with his Romanian counterpart, Sorin Grindeanu.

“I heard President Abbas yesterday say that Palestinians teach their children peace,” said Netanyahu. “That’s unfortunately not true.”

“They name their schools after mass murderers of Israelis and they pay terrorists, but I hope that it’s possible to achieve a change and to pursue a genuine peace,” Netanyahu continued. “This is something Israel is always ready for. I’m always ready for genuine peace.”

Netanyahu also expressed his aspiration to work with Trump on achieving a final peace agreement.

“I look forward to discussing with President Trump the best ways to advance peace,” Netanyahu noted. “This is something we fervently share with the President.”

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News