In a bold operation carried out today (Tuesday), Israeli police forces and personnel from Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) raided the homes of released security prisoners and their families who receive payments from the Palestinian Authority. They confiscated property and cash amounting to hundreds of thousands of shekels. The frozen funds will be transferred as compensation to families of terror victims.
The operation was carried out following the directive of Defense Minister Israel Katz to impose sanctions on released security prisoners who are residents and citizens of Israel and receive payments from the Palestinian Authority. This decision was made based on the recommendation of the NBCTF in the Ministry of Defense and in coordination with the ISA (Shin Bet).
An End to Rewards for Acts of Terror
The PA has long been criticized for its “pay for slay” program, wherein terrorists imprisoned in Israel are paid salaries and benefits according to the length of their sentence – i.e. according to the severity of their crime. The terror funds that were seized today were paid by the PA to terrorists serving prison sentences in Israeli jails, released prisoners, and their families as a reward for acts of terror they carried out, including the attempted kidnappings of soldiers, bomb-making, smuggling explosives, and more.
A Firm and Uncompromising Response
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated:
“We will not allow the Palestinian Authority to continue rewarding terrorists for murdering and harming Israeli citizens. The blood money paid by the PA to terrorists fuels terrorism. The State of Israel is engaged in a comprehensive war against terror—on the battlefield, in the economic sphere, and in every necessary arena. Those who choose to act against the State of Israel will pay a heavy price. The economic campaign against terror, led by the NBCTF and other bodies will continue, and the PA’s payments to terrorists will be met with a firm and uncompromising response. The frozen funds will be transferred as compensation to families of terror victims—instead of serving as rewards for murderers.”
Head of the NBCTF, Adv. Paul Landes, added:
“The economic struggle is one of the most significant and effective tools against terrorism—the confiscation and forfeiture of PA payments to terrorists will continue to be enforced.”
