MP’s bid to stop Palestine giving UK foreign aid to jailed terrorists
MPs are being urged to block Palestinian officials from handing British foreign aid to convicted terrorist killers.
Kay Wilson, attacked and left for dead by Palestinian thugs who killed her friend in 2010, has sent a letter to the International Development Committee demanding Government action.
Ms Wilson, whose letter is supported by 130 campaigners, said the Palestinian governing body is using foreign aid to pay her attackers in prison.
The two murderers have received £9,000 each, it is claimed.
Ms Wilson and US citizen Kristine Luken were attacked while hiking in the hills of Jerusalem.
The pair were held for 30 minutes at knifepoint then gagged and bound before being stabbed with machetes.
Ms Wilson was stabbed 13 times and had more than 30 bones broken during the ordeal. After Ms Luken was killed, she survived by playing dead.
The two attackers were jailed but reportedly belonged to a group allied to Fatah, which runs the Palestinian Authority.
Frenzied
In her letter, Ms Wilson said: “In the past the Department for International Development has suspended aid packages when evidence has emerged of taxpayers’ money being misspent or on the discovery of unacceptable behaviour and the committee has also been swift to investigate when a misuse of funds or malpractice has been highlighted.
“However, despite the fact that your committee possesses wide-ranging powers to examine Dfid’s work you have chosen to ignore the Palestinian Authority’s funding and incitement of terrorism.”
She said Dfid ministers have been unable to produce a list of civil servants in the Palestinian Authority who have received aid money channelled through the World Bank Trust Fund.
Ms Wilson added: “There is now strong evidence that ministers have misled Parliament about how taxpayers’ money is distributed and there is incontestable evidence that the Palestinian Authority misuses aid funds, glorifies terror and prevents much-needed development funds reaching those most in need.
“As the chair of the International Development Committee, my co-signatories and I demand that you institute an inquiry into these matters as a matter of urgency.”
Committee chairman Stephen Twigg has confirmed he intends to raise the proposal with MPs.
Mr Twigg told the Daily Express: “I received Kay Wilson’s letter and I take its contents very seriously.”
A Dfid spokesman said: “Only named public servants from a pre-approved EU list are eligible and a robust verification system validates that funds are being used for intended purposes.”
The row highlights the Daily Express’s Stop The Foreign Aid Madness campaign, that aims to trim the £13billion international development budget.
More than 70,000 people have signed an Express petition.