Aid Given to Terrorists’ Families

In response to news reports that foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) has been given to families of terrorists, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) released a harsh rebuke of the policy, and sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton requesting immediate attention to the matter.

“The British newspaper, the Daily Mail, reported today that the PA has authorized payments of £5 million ($8.2 million) to the families of ‘martyrs’ – people who have been killed fighting Israel, including suicide bombers,” wrote Nadler of the 8th Congressional District of New York.

“Such payments by the PA would be beyond shocking and outrageous….Paying perpetrators of terrorism, and in so doing actively supporting violence, is a direct violation by the PA of its agreements and of international law.”

Below is the full text of the letter:

August 8, 2011

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, NW, Room 7226
Washington, DC 20520-0099

Dear Madam Secretary:

I note with grave concern reports that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is using foreign aid to fund terrorism against Israel.

The British newspaper, the Daily Mail, reported today that the PA has authorized payments of £5 million ($8.2 million) to the families of “martyrs” – people who have been killed fighting Israel, including suicide bombers. The PA also has authorized an additional £3 million ($4.9 million) to be given to 5,500 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, including many who are being held for terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians (Matthew Kalman, “Families of suicide bombers given £5m in British aid cash,” Daily Mail, August 8, 2011). Such payments by the PA would be beyond shocking and outrageous.

The U.S. has provided about $2 billion in bilateral aid to the Palestinians between fiscal year (FY) 2009 and 2011. Of that, $800 million went directly to the PA government. President Obama has asked for $200 million more for the PA government in FY 2012. It is abhorrent to learn that such foreign aid is possibly being used to support terrorist attacks on Israel, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The Palestinian Authority has committed itself to negotiations and to refrain from acts of terrorism. Paying perpetrators of terrorism, and, in so doing, actively supporting violence, is a direct violation by the PA of its agreements and of international law.

The U.S.-Israel relationship is a unique and special one, and we must do all we can to support our ally Israel. I ask that you investigate expeditiously the allegations reported by the Daily Mail, provide information to Congress and the American people on what you have learned, and ensure that U.S. taxpayer money does not go to support terrorists or those who aid them. The U.S. must be a force for peace and stability in the region. That role is incompatible with the continuing campaign of terror being perpetrated against the Israeli people. Our efforts must be to end those attacks.

I appreciate you taking time to review this urgent request. I look forward to your prompt reply.

Sincerely,

Jerrold Nadler
Member of Congress