Abbas and Fatah declare support and esteem for terrorists, imply continued terror salaries
Abbas honors “brave” terrorist prisoner “heroes,” their “struggles are lofty medals of honor” - on Fatah anniversary
Top PA official Rajoub on terrorists: “We all bow before the greatness of our heroic prisoners”
On the occasion of Fatah’s recent anniversary Fatah leaders and officials, among them its Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, reiterated and emphasized their support and esteem for all terrorists – imprisoned and wounded, as well the ones killed while attacking Israelis - the Martyrs.
As Palestinian Media Watch has exposed, Abbas has stressed numerous times that the PA and Fatah “won’t abandon” the terrorists, and will continue to pay them salaries, even “if only one penny is left” in the PA coffers. At Fatah’s recent anniversary event, Abbas stated again his admiration for all the terrorists and vowed not to “abandon” them:
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: “We also send our brave prisoners a salute of honor and appreciation for their giving, their sacrifices, and their patience for the confrontation with the occupation and its prison guards, in order to defend their freedom, the freedom of the homeland, and the honor of our people and its rights. We also salute our heroic wounded and tell our heroes the prisoners and the wounded and their families and the families of the Martyrs that we won’t abandon you. Your struggles are lofty medals of honor that testify to your sacrifices for the sake of defending your homeland and your people. May you all be blessed.”
[Official PA TV, Dec. 31, 2021]
Abbas reiterated this again a few days later at a meeting of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council. Speaking about “the economic situation and the financial crisis befalling the State of Palestine,” Abbas again implied that the PA will continue its “Pay-for-Slay” policy and reward terrorists with salaries:
“A siege is being imposed on us in order to pressure us, but thanks to our people’s resolve and the crowding of our ranks we are capable of dealing with it, because justice is with us. We will not abandon our Martyrs, prisoners, and fighters.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 4, 2022]
Abbas’ Secretary of Fatah’s Central Committee, Jibril Rajoub, similarly expressed the Movement’s appreciation of the terrorists, stressing their “greatness”:
Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub: “Just as I send greetings and bow and we all bow before the greatness and the sacrifices of our Martyrs, we also bow before the greatness of our heroic prisoners.”
[Official PA TV, Topic of the Day, Jan. 1, 2022]
When a prisoner was recently released, Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki glorified all the terrorist prisoners as “true heroes”:
“These are true heroes, they waved the flags of Palestine that waved high even though they were in the prisons, and they demonstrated resolve among this enemy, as the spirit of the Palestinians will not be broken, and they will sacrifice everything for the sake of their freedom and their dignity.”
[Official PA TV News, Dec. 28, 2021]
The Fatah Movement Central Committee “saluted our brave prisoners in the occupation’s prisons,” and - as did its Chairman Abbas - implied salaries to terrorists will continue by stressing that the terrorists’ “cause” is “the Palestinian people’s central cause, and that we will not agree to the harming of them or their rights, no matter how heavy the pressures may be.” [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 3, 2022]
PMW has documented that the PA has produced videos of Abbas promising the continuation of the PA’s “Pay-for-Slay” reward program for terrorists, turning the term “even if only one penny remains” into a slogan. These videos and others in which Abbas promises continued money flow to terrorists have been broadcast extensively by official PA TV:
- Official PA TV broadcast Abbas’ vow to continue paying terrorist salaries 155 times in 2019: “If one penny remains… it is for them”
[Official PA TV, from Nov. 16 (twice) 2018 to Oct. 17, 2019, 155 times in 2019 alone]
- The PA stresses Abbas’ vow to keep rewarding terrorists with salaries, even if only “one penny” left – broadcast at least 49 times in 2021:
[Official PA TV, June 4 (twice), 5 (twice), 6 (four times), 9 (twice), 11 (twice), 12, 15, 16 (twice), 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 26, 28, 30, July 2, 3 (twice), 4, 6, 7, 8, 13 (twice), 17 (twice) 23, 26, Aug. 9 (three times), 13, 14, 20, 21, 29, 30 (twice), Sept. 26, Oct. 31, 2021]
The PA made yet another video of Abbas reiterating the PA’s support for terrorist murderers and “their right to the money”, which PA TV has broadcast at least 43 times:
[Official PA TV, Nov. 11 (twice), 12 (twice), 15 (three times), 18 (twice), 30, Dec. 2, 4, 10, 12, 23, 24, 26 (twice) 28, 2019,Jan. 6, 16, 18, 26, Feb. 4, 13, June 8, 25, July 14, 16, 19, 23, Oct. 8, 11,15, Nov. 3, 7, 2020; Official PA TV Live, June 25, 27, 2020; Jan. 1, March 14, Aug. 16, Sept. 8, 26, Nov. 17, Dec. 8, 2021]
Jibril Rajoub also serves as Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).
Abbas Zaki also holds the position as Fatah Commissioner for Arab and China Relations