PLO official in Gaza on the PA’s payments of salaries to terrorists: “The Palestinian national leadership cannot give up on them and not pay salaries to these prisoners.”
Official PA TV program Inside, special episode for Palestinian Prisoner’s Day, hosting member of the prisoners’ committee of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces in Gaza Mustafa Al-Maslamani and Director-General of the PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs in the Gaza Strip Bassam Al-Majdalawi
Official PA TV host: “Over the past year, Mr. Bassam, the pressures on the Palestinian leadership and in particular on [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas to harm the salaries of the Martyrs (Shahids) and prisoners have increased. But there has been a decisive position – this is one of the red lines that cannot be approached, and therefore there was a firm position. In your opinion, what are the means that can be implemented in order to deal with these pressures while ensuring the support for the leadership in its position refusing to harm the salaries of the families of the Martyrs and the prisoners?”
Director-General of the PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs in the Gaza Strip Bassam Al-Majdalawi: “First, the leadership’s position has not changed and was always firm in defending the prisoners’ cause. As my friend [Mustafa Al-Maslamani] Abu Al-Adib said, for many years the Palestinian leadership has been dealing with the issue of [prisoner] exchange [deals] and defense of the prisoners’ cause. Its first and last concern has been to empty the prisons so that no prisoners will remain within these prisons. Indeed, there is a cruel attack by the US and the State of Israel by exerting pressure on the Palestinian [PA] government and on the political national leadership – particularly r egarding the payment of the prisoners and Martyrs’ allowances (mukhassasat). But we say – and the Palestinian leadership has said before us – that these prisoners and Martyrs are the backbone of the Palestinian state. It is impossible to give up on these soldiers who paid the greatest and most complete price in the Palestinian cause. It is impossible that the Palestinian leadership would give up on the members of its people, particularly as it is a law that exists in the world that a family cannot be left without a provider and cannot be left so it will suffer in society. Therefore, in addition to them being a political national cause who defended the Palestinian land and paid with their best years, there are prisoners who are still imprisoned such as Karim Younes and Maher Younes (i.e., terrorists, murdered 1), and many veteran prisoners. Today they have been in prison for 36 years. The Palestinian national leadership cannot give up on them and not pay salaries to these prisoners.”
Palestinian National and Islamic Forces - an unaffiliated coordinating body comprised of representatives from factions in the PLO and outside the PLO. The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces were established in 2000 shortly after the start of the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005), under the authorization of Yasser Arafat and the leadership of terrorist Marwan Barghouti. During the PA terror campaign it played an active role in coordinating political efforts and terror attacks against Israel, but since the end of the campaign it has been less significant and its activity is primarily centered in Gaza.
Karim Younes - Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and murdering Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 together with his cousin Maher Younes. Younes was originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012. In May 2017 Younes was appointed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to the Fatah Central Committee.
Maher Younes - Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and murdering Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 together with his cousin Karim Younes. Younes was originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012.
Official PA TV host: “Over the past year, Mr. Bassam, the pressures on the Palestinian leadership and in particular on [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas to harm the salaries of the Martyrs (Shahids) and prisoners have increased. But there has been a decisive position – this is one of the red lines that cannot be approached, and therefore there was a firm position. In your opinion, what are the means that can be implemented in order to deal with these pressures while ensuring the support for the leadership in its position refusing to harm the salaries of the families of the Martyrs and the prisoners?”
Director-General of the PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs in the Gaza Strip Bassam Al-Majdalawi: “First, the leadership’s position has not changed and was always firm in defending the prisoners’ cause. As my friend [Mustafa Al-Maslamani] Abu Al-Adib said, for many years the Palestinian leadership has been dealing with the issue of [prisoner] exchange [deals] and defense of the prisoners’ cause. Its first and last concern has been to empty the prisons so that no prisoners will remain within these prisons. Indeed, there is a cruel attack by the US and the State of Israel by exerting pressure on the Palestinian [PA] government and on the political national leadership – particularly r egarding the payment of the prisoners and Martyrs’ allowances (mukhassasat). But we say – and the Palestinian leadership has said before us – that these prisoners and Martyrs are the backbone of the Palestinian state. It is impossible to give up on these soldiers who paid the greatest and most complete price in the Palestinian cause. It is impossible that the Palestinian leadership would give up on the members of its people, particularly as it is a law that exists in the world that a family cannot be left without a provider and cannot be left so it will suffer in society. Therefore, in addition to them being a political national cause who defended the Palestinian land and paid with their best years, there are prisoners who are still imprisoned such as Karim Younes and Maher Younes (i.e., terrorists, murdered 1), and many veteran prisoners. Today they have been in prison for 36 years. The Palestinian national leadership cannot give up on them and not pay salaries to these prisoners.”
Palestinian National and Islamic Forces - an unaffiliated coordinating body comprised of representatives from factions in the PLO and outside the PLO. The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces were established in 2000 shortly after the start of the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005), under the authorization of Yasser Arafat and the leadership of terrorist Marwan Barghouti. During the PA terror campaign it played an active role in coordinating political efforts and terror attacks against Israel, but since the end of the campaign it has been less significant and its activity is primarily centered in Gaza.
Karim Younes - Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and murdering Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 together with his cousin Maher Younes. Younes was originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012. In May 2017 Younes was appointed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to the Fatah Central Committee.
Maher Younes - Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and murdering Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 together with his cousin Karim Younes. Younes was originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012.