PA chooses terror promotion and rewards over US aid
PA chooses terror promotion and rewards
over US aid
over US aid
By Maurice Hirsch, Adv.
h
“Hundreds of Palestinians will be losing their jobs as a result of the U.S. decision to terminate all USAID projects in Palestine. An additional step in a series of punitive and unethical measures, carried out by the Trump Administration, against the people of Palestine to pressure its leadership to compromise on our inalienable right to self-determination.”
[Website of the State of Palestine PLO Negotiations Affairs Department,
Feb. 2, 2019]
Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Erekat, on behalf of the PA, is once again distorting a very simple fact. Feb. 2, 2019]
In reality, it is not the US that has made any such decision. Rather, it is the Palestinian Authority, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, which has positively decided to reject all of the considerable US aid to the Palestinians. It has done so by actively choosing to continue its ”Pay for Slay“ policy, whereby the PA squanders hundreds of millions of dollars annually to incentivize and reward terrorism and terrorists including convicted murderers and the families of dead terrorists (so-called “Martyrs.”)
American veteran Taylor Force was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist while touring Israel. When the US understood that the PA pays the family of the murderer of Taylor a monthly allowance, it passed the Taylor Force Act (TFA, passed March 2018). According to the provisions of TFA, most of the US aid to the PA became contingent on the PA abolishing its ”Pay for Slay” policy.
Instead of heeding the call of the US administration, the PA made a positive decision to waive the US aid and continue its ”Pay for Slay“ policy, with Abbas declaring that the PA prioritizes rewarding terrorist prisoners rather than taking care of the rest of the Palestinian population:
“By Allah, even if we have only a penny left it will only be spent on the families of the Martyrs and the prisoners, and only afterwards will it be spent on the rest of the people.”
[Official PA TV, July 24, 2018]
In parallel to the passage of TFA, the PA managed to escape being held legally and financially responsible for its promotion of terrorism. At the end of lengthy litigation, in which the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York found the PA responsible for terrorism that caused the death of American citizens and ordered it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation, the US Supreme Court, accepting the argument of the PA, decided that the US Courts did not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the cases. [Sokolow v. PLO and PA US Supreme Court No. 16-1071 April 2, 2018]
In response to that decision, in October 2018, the US passed the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (ATCA). The new legislation was very simple - any recipient of US aid inherently agrees to the jurisdiction of the US court system. In other words, the PA could no longer be a recipient of US aid and then claim that the US courts have no jurisdiction to penalize it for its responsibility for terrorism against US citizens.
Understanding that if it continued to receive US aid, the PA would finally be held financially liable for its promotion and involvement in terrorism, PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah wrote to US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, saying that “In light of these developments, the Government of Palestine respectfully informs the United States Government that, as of January 31st, 2019, it fully disclaims and no longer wishes to accept any form of assistance referenced in ATCA.”
So while it is true that the US aid to the Palestinian Authority ended on January 31st, 2019, Erekat’s attempt to mislead the world by laying the blame for the cessation of the aid and the ensuing loss of Palestinian jobs on the US administration should be seen for what it is - another PA excuse to shirk and deflect responsibility and distort the truth.
The truth is that the US aid ended because the PA positively decided to reject the assistance in favor of continuing its ”Pay for Slay” policy and in order to avoid being held responsible for its terror promotion and involvement in terror that has claimed the lives of hundreds of victims, including numerous US citizens.
The American use of financial leverage to force the PA to choose a peaceful approach and the best interests of its population instead of choosing violence and continued promotion of terrorism by continuing its ”Pay for Slay” policy could have constituted a huge step towards achieving peace. However, according to Abbas and Erekat’s statements, it seems to be a step the PA is not prepared to take.
The following is Erekat’s press release:
"Hundreds of Palestinians will be losing their jobs as a result of the U.S. decision to terminate all USAID projects in Palestine. An additional step in a series of punitive and unethical measures, carried out by the Trump Administration, against the people of Palestine to pressure its leadership to compromise on our inalienable right to self-determination.
We recognize and appreciate the contribution of the American people, as well as the work of USAID and its role in advancing development and stability in Palestine throughout the past years. However, we reject the current misguided U.S. policy that pressure on the Palestinian leadership, and taking revenge against the Palestinian staff working for USAID, will force us to compromise on our national and fundamental human rights, on Jerusalem and the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Over the years, USAID-funded projects attracted hundreds if not thousands of high-skilled Palestinian employees in a host of professional fields, including health, education, and infrastructure. Many of them have served and contributed to many projects in occupied Palestine and throughout the Middle East. Some have been working with USAID and the U.S. Consulate General for over two decades and have a rich reservoir of experience. Today they all are undergoing tremendous hardship, and we will do everything possible for them to continue serving our nation.
We, therefore, call upon various segments of the Palestinian economy, factories, industries, banks, and community organizations, to do everything they can to create new jobs that can benefit from their tremendous technical experience. We have confidence in our government, the private sector, and community organizations that they will not abandon our daughters and sons at such a critical stage in their careers.
The people of Palestine have been dehumanized, demonized, and terrorized for over half a century. Israel has been confiscating our lands for its illegal settlement construction, ripping us of our rights, and denying our very existence in our homeland. Nevertheless, we will remain a proud and defiant nation, and we will continue to believe in the justice of our cause and in our right to live in freedom, peace, and dignity."
[Website of the State of Palestine PLO Negotiations Affairs Department, Feb. 2, 2019]