Palestinian Pulls Wool over European Eyes, ‘Pay-for-slay’ policy not over.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had signed a decree in February canceling the program, an announcement which was met with widespread European approval.

However, The PA paid stipends to security prisoners and to families of “martyrs” at PA post offices on Saturday morning, despite publicly claiming to have ended the practice, according to a new report by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) director Itamar Marcus on Sunday.

“Yesterday, Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10:00 a.m., the PA Post Offices paid terrorists’ salaries and stipends to families of terrorist ‘Martyrs,’” Marcus wrote, adding that there was “no official announcement” and that payments were delayed so “everyone, even the terrorists’ families, would think that the program had ended.”

PMW published screenshots of social media conversations among recipients discussing the amounts deposited, including one exchange stating, “50% of the salaries and [those making less than 2,000 received] the full amount. FYI, the salary is for June.” PMW said the percentage matched the partial salaries the PA paid civil servants earlier this month due to its fiscal crisis.24:15

/The watchdog outlined a two-week timeline in which families of prisoners and those killed in attacks pressed the PA for updates, held small demonstrations in Ramallah on October 20, and were told informally by post-office staff that payments would be made on Saturday without an official statement. On the morning of October 25, local Telegram channels began reporting that “the salaries of the prisoners, the wounded, and the Martyrs have arrived at the post office,” and PMW said that payments proceeded “as usual” through the day.

PMW argued that the PA could not announce the transfers because it had assured donors it had ended so-called “pay for slay.” PA President Abbas signed a decree in February revoking the system of payments to families of prisoners and those killed or wounded in attacks, according to multiple reports at the time.

Europe 'welcomes the reforms'

European officials later welcomed what they described as reforms. In a September 25 communiqué, the French Foreign Ministry said, “We welcome the reforms already underway by the Palestinian Authority, including: the abrogation of the prisoners’ payment system, that is now effective.”

Yet again the PA manages to pull the wool over the eyes of the international community.