Likud MKs Denounce Rewards for Freed Palestinian Prisoners

YERUSHALAYIM

The heroes’ welcome for the Palestinians released from Israeli prisons recently as part of the peace process has worn thin on senior Likud leaders, who angrily denounced on Monday the showering of honors and financial rewards on the convicted murderers, The Jerusalem Post reported.

“The world thinks it’s funding peace, but instead the Palestinians fund terror,” Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon said of the benefits given to freed terrorists. “Their aid money is used to give massive grants to terrorists. The world must stop sending money to the PA until it stops funding terror.”

Deputy Minister for Liaison with the Knesset Ofir Akunis called for an end to prisoner releases.

“While Israel makes more gestures, the Palestinian leadership continues to feed the fire of violence and encourage terror,” Akunis said. “The grants to villainous murderers shows the true face of our so-called partners for peace, and is further proof that they did not come to the negotiating room with clean hands.”

According to Israel Radio, upon their release, each of the freed Palestinians received a $50,000 payment from the Ramallah government. In addition, they are also given a monthly stipend that ranges from NIS 8,000 — NIS 14,000, in addition to other state benefits and perks.

A senior Palestinian official told Israel Radio that the goal of the largesse is to enable the newly-released men to “begin their lives anew” and re-acclimate themselves to society.

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