Abbas: Terrorists acted out of “national interest, not for personal reasons” – we must pay them

Speech at the Arab League conference in Cairo

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: "[Israel] said: 'We object to the money that you are paying to' – what they call – 'the terrorists, the criminals.' In other words, the Martyrs, the prisoners, and the wounded. Why? They [Israel] said: 'They are criminals. Therefore, you must not pay them money.' We have been paying salaries to the families of the Martyrs, to the prisoners, and to the wounded since 1965. This is because they were killed, imprisoned, or wounded because of a national interest and for the sake of a national interest, and not for personal reasons. It is our obligation to take care of their families."