Several PA and PLO officials attack Taylor Force Act and appointment of John Bolton, defend payments to terrorists: "New American thuggery against Palestine"
Headline: "New American thuggery against Palestine"
"Palestinian opposition to the American blackmail: The Martyrs and prisoners are sacred symbols of freedom and struggle
The American administration is continuing its aggressive steps against Palestine: The American Congress has conditioned its aid to the PA on stopping payment of the Martyrs’ (Shahids) and prisoners' allowances (mukhassasat), while US President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of hardliner John Bolton – who has a long history of hostility towards the Palestinians – as his national security advisor.
Official Spokesman of the [PA] National Unity Government Yusuf Al-Mahmoud expressed the government’s opposition and condemnation of the demand of the American Congress’ demand to stop paying the Martyrs’ and prisoners’ allowances in return for the continuation of the American aid to the institutions of the Palestinian state …
He added: ‘From the perspective of our people, nation, and cause, the Martyrs and prisoners are sacred symbols of freedom, struggle, support for human dignity, and the rejection of submission and degradation. All of these qualities are noble human qualities. They constitute a right that is guaranteed to all people, and they cannot be bought and sold for all the money in the world.’
It should be noted that the American Congress yesterday [March 23, 2018] passed a law to stop the financial aid to the PA if it continues to pay the prisoners’ and Martyrs' allowances (refers to the Taylor Force Act; see note below –Ed.)…
Secretary-General of the [Palestinian] Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) and PLO Executive Committee member Ahmed Majdalani emphasized that the salaries (rawatib) of the Martyrs' families and the prisoners cannot be subjected to American political extortion. He added that the leadership attaches great importance to this matter, as these are prisoners of freedom who fought for statehood and independence. Majdalani noted that the occupation government pays millions of dollars from American tax money to murderers from among the settlers and the occupation's soldiers, and allocates salaries for their families (sic., Israel does not pay murderers or provide their families with salaries)…
PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said that Bolton’s appointment will toughen the American position and the Israeli position, and will create a 'destructive reality' regarding the Palestinians and the region. Ashrawi said to [the international news agency] AFP: 'This man has a long history of hostility towards Palestine, since he was [the US ambassador] in the UN, where he regularly defended the Israeli immunity.' She added: 'With his appointment, the matters have been clarified and the picture has been completed – the American administration has joined the extremist Zionists, the fundamentalist Christians, and the racist white people.'"
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The Taylor Force Act - a bill named after US citizen Taylor Force who was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in Tel Aviv on March 8, 2016, which calls to cut almost all funding to the PA if it continues paying salaries to terrorists and allowances to families of "Martyrs." On March 23, 2018, the bill was approved by the American Congress and signed into law by US President Donald Trump.
"Palestinian opposition to the American blackmail: The Martyrs and prisoners are sacred symbols of freedom and struggle
The American administration is continuing its aggressive steps against Palestine: The American Congress has conditioned its aid to the PA on stopping payment of the Martyrs’ (Shahids) and prisoners' allowances (mukhassasat), while US President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of hardliner John Bolton – who has a long history of hostility towards the Palestinians – as his national security advisor.
Official Spokesman of the [PA] National Unity Government Yusuf Al-Mahmoud expressed the government’s opposition and condemnation of the demand of the American Congress’ demand to stop paying the Martyrs’ and prisoners’ allowances in return for the continuation of the American aid to the institutions of the Palestinian state …
He added: ‘From the perspective of our people, nation, and cause, the Martyrs and prisoners are sacred symbols of freedom, struggle, support for human dignity, and the rejection of submission and degradation. All of these qualities are noble human qualities. They constitute a right that is guaranteed to all people, and they cannot be bought and sold for all the money in the world.’
It should be noted that the American Congress yesterday [March 23, 2018] passed a law to stop the financial aid to the PA if it continues to pay the prisoners’ and Martyrs' allowances (refers to the Taylor Force Act; see note below –Ed.)…
Secretary-General of the [Palestinian] Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) and PLO Executive Committee member Ahmed Majdalani emphasized that the salaries (rawatib) of the Martyrs' families and the prisoners cannot be subjected to American political extortion. He added that the leadership attaches great importance to this matter, as these are prisoners of freedom who fought for statehood and independence. Majdalani noted that the occupation government pays millions of dollars from American tax money to murderers from among the settlers and the occupation's soldiers, and allocates salaries for their families (sic., Israel does not pay murderers or provide their families with salaries)…
PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said that Bolton’s appointment will toughen the American position and the Israeli position, and will create a 'destructive reality' regarding the Palestinians and the region. Ashrawi said to [the international news agency] AFP: 'This man has a long history of hostility towards Palestine, since he was [the US ambassador] in the UN, where he regularly defended the Israeli immunity.' She added: 'With his appointment, the matters have been clarified and the picture has been completed – the American administration has joined the extremist Zionists, the fundamentalist Christians, and the racist white people.'"
Click to view bulletin
The Taylor Force Act - a bill named after US citizen Taylor Force who was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in Tel Aviv on March 8, 2016, which calls to cut almost all funding to the PA if it continues paying salaries to terrorists and allowances to families of "Martyrs." On March 23, 2018, the bill was approved by the American Congress and signed into law by US President Donald Trump.
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