Bid to cut funds over ‘martyrs’ compensation for Palestinians

BETHLEHEM: A bill has been reintroduced by US Republican lawmakers seeking to cut funding to the Palestinian Authority over the so-called “martyrs” compensation programme which provides payment to families of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or held in Israeli prisons.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the bill was initially introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Tuesday and would eliminate funding to the PA unless it ceased providing funds to families of slain Palestinians and prisoners.

“If a young Palestinian is convicted in a court in Israel of being a terrorist, the longer they’re in jail, the more their family receives from the Palestinian Authority,” the Jerusalem Post reported Graham as saying.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the bill would necessitate that the PA comply with certain conditions to receive funds from the US government, including publicly condemning and punishing Palestinians who have committed acts of violence against Israelis and “terminating payments” to individuals and their families who have been killed after carrying out an attack.

In Palestine, the Palestine Liberation Organisation is responsible for providing financial assistance to families of those slain or imprisoned by Israeli forces. In 2016, this included 112 Palestinians who were killed by Israeli forces and nearly 4 000 Palestinians wounded by Israeli forces, mostly during clashes.

In addition, Israeli authorities currently hold 6 500 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, according to prisoners’ rights group Addameer, among them 536 without facing any charges. – Ma’an