Israeli forces seize Palestinian Authority funds in raid on terrorist homes

Israeli police and military forces seized cash payments made by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to Palestinian terrorists and their families during a large operation Wednesday, while also confiscating vehicles and property belonging to terrorists worth an estimated NIS 100,000 ($33,600).

The operation comes as the Israeli military boosts its presence in Judea and Samaria (internationally known as the West Bank) ahead of the Jewish high holidays in September and amid continued controversy over the PA’s financial support for Palestinians convicted of terrorism.

Israeli forces also raided the homes of several terrorists, including Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Abad, who was reportedly involved in an attempted terrorist attack in Jerusalem in 2002.

Forces also entered the home of Hamas agent Ahed Faiz Ali al-Natasha, who reportedly took part in planning a car bomb explosion next to a residential building in the Jerusalem suburb of Pisgat Ze'ev. He was also reportedly involved in planning an attack at the Clal Center in Jerusalem, in which 10 civilians and two police officers were wounded.

The PA’s controversial pay-for-slay policy offers financial incentives to individuals who carry out terrorist attacks against Jews and Israelis. The PA had reportedly promised the Trump administration to end the policy but the U.S. State Department informed Congress in March that Ramallah continues to pay terrorists and their families despite its pledge to Washington.

“The PA continues to provide a system of compensation in support of terrorism through new mechanisms and under a different name,” the State Department wrote in a report.

“Despite changing the mechanisms, the PA continued payments and benefits to Palestinian terrorists and their families,” it added.

According to the report, some $156 million was paid to terrorists and their families. Of that amount, $126 million went to terrorists, including those released from Israeli custody, while $30 million was paid to families of terrorists who died while perpetrating attacks against Israelis.

Despite its financial constraints, the PA had reportedly promised to provide a total of $214 million to the families of terrorists.

Israel has responded to the PA’s pay-for-slay program by withholding tax revenues that Jerusalem collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.

In June, the NGO Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) warned that the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) decision to transfer €395 million (about $458 million) could encourage the continuation of the PA’s pay-for-slay program. The funds were officially earmarked for economic development and support for businesses in areas under PA jurisdiction.

PMW founder Itamar Marcus warned that the funds could nevertheless be diverted to finance terrorism against Israel and Jews.

“Banks that are receiving the money directly from the EU have the bank accounts paying terror salaries to terrorists and their families,” Marcus assessed.

The European Union and other international actors have argued that the funding is crucial to preventing the PA from collapsing financially. Marcus, however, believes financial pressure could eventually force the PA to reform.

“The EU timing could not be worse. Israel and the United States are demanding that the PA reform, and given the PA’s financial crisis, it could eventually be forced to submit to international pressure and start a serious reform process,” he explained.