Norway Tells Abbas to Stop Funding Terrorists’ Families

Israel’s Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold thanked Norway for informing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas it will not transfer money to the PA that will be used to support convicted terrorists or their families, according to The Times of Israel.

Earlier this month, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende raised the issue at a meeting with Abbas, who denied the Norwegian aid was going to terrorists or their families.

“In the meeting I emphasized that this funding, where financial payments increased by the length of prisoners’ sentences, was unacceptable and should be abolished. I emphasized that with the political and economic challenges that Palestinians now face, it pays to abolish this scheme,” Brende said, according to the Norwegian daily Dagen.

Gold expressed “Israel’s appreciation” to Norwegian Ambassador Jon Hanssen-Bauer, according to a statement issued by Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon.

“It is outrageous that killing Israelis has become a source of income for many in the PA. This completely contradicts what peace is all about. These payments incentivize terrorism and must be stopped,” Gold said.