Israeli Foreign Minister Condemns Palestinian Authority’s ‘Pay-for-Slay’ Program Following Deadly Attacks
JERUSALEM, Israel — Two Israelis were killed in a series of terrorist attacks on Friday, prompting sharp condemnation from Israeli officials who accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) of continuing to fund terrorism through its controversial “Pay-for-Slay” program. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar publicly denounced the PA’s policy, which provides financial payments to terrorists and their families, in the wake of the attacks that claimed the lives of 19-year-old Aviv Maor from Kibbutz Ein Harod and 68-year-old Mordechai Shimshon from Beit She’an in northern Israel.
The “Pay-for-Slay” program gained international attention after the 2016 murder of Taylor Force, a West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran, who was fatally stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist while visiting Israel. The killing spurred the enactment of the Taylor Force Act in 2018, signed into law by then-President Donald Trump, which conditions U.S. aid to the PA on ending payments to individuals involved in terrorism. Despite this, Israeli officials maintain that the PA has continued the payments under various guises.
In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Sa’ar accused Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of deceiving the international community by falsely claiming the payments had ceased. “Don’t believe Mahmoud Abbas’ lies. The Palestinian Authority’s payments to terrorists and their families haven’t stopped,” Sa’ar wrote. He further charged that the PA disguises payments to released terrorists as pensions to former Palestinian Security Service members, a tactic aimed at obscuring the true nature of the funds.
Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told Fox News Digital that despite public claims from the PA about halting the program, there has been “no substantial change in Palestinian Authority policy with regard to the payments to terrorists.” He described the PA’s statements as a “façade” designed to placate international donors and observers, warning that “Pay-for-Slay will continue in a different manner,” making it harder for the global community to monitor the flow of funds.
The attacks on Friday involved a vehicle-ramming and stabbing in the city of Afula, northern Israel, where Israeli security forces conducted investigations at the scene. The incident underscores ongoing security challenges in the region and the persistent threat posed by militants supported, according to Israeli officials, by PA funding mechanisms.
The controversy surrounding the PA’s financial support for terrorists has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the U.S. government. The Taylor Force Act remains a key legislative tool aimed at curbing such payments by linking U.S. aid to the PA’s compliance. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in aid distribution.
The ongoing debate over the PA’s role in financing terrorism also involves international bodies such as the United Nations, which has faced scrutiny for its dealings with Palestinian aid agencies amid allegations of complicity or negligence. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities maintain that the PA’s policies fuel violence and obstruct prospects for peace.
As the region grapples with the aftermath of the latest attacks, Israeli officials call on the international community to recognize and address the persistent threat posed by the PA’s “Pay-for-Slay” program. Sa’ar’s statements serve as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in achieving lasting security and stability in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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