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Israeli Foreign Minister Condemns Palestinian Authority’s “Pay-for-Slay” Program Following Deadly Attack
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has sharply criticized the Palestinian Authority (PA) for what he describes as continued funding of terrorism through its controversial “Pay-for-Slay” program, following a deadly attack that claimed two Israeli lives on Friday.
The attack, which occurred in northern Israel, resulted in the deaths of 19-year-old Aviv Maor from Kibbutz Ein Harod and 68-year-old Mordechai Shimshon from Beit She’an. Israeli security forces have characterized the car-ramming and stabbing incident as a terrorist attack.
Prior to Friday’s attack, Sa’ar had issued warnings on social media about alleged deception by Palestinian leadership. “Don’t believe Mahmoud Abbas’ lies. The Palestinian Authority’s payments to terrorists and their families haven’t stopped,” Sa’ar wrote on X. He accused the PA of disguising payments to released militants as pensions for Palestinian Security Services personnel, calling the practice “distorted.”
The PA’s “Pay-for-Slay” policy gained international attention in 2016 when Taylor Force, a West Point graduate who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, was fatally stabbed by a Palestinian attacker while touring Israel. The incident led to the Taylor Force Act, signed into law by then-President Donald Trump in 2018, which restricts U.S. economic aid to the Palestinian Authority until it ceases payments to individuals who commit acts of terrorism.
Security experts have disputed the Palestinian Authority’s claims about reforming the program. Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told reporters that there has been “no substantial change in Palestinian Authority policy with regard to the payments to terrorists.”
“They are making noises as if they are changing their policies,” Michael said, but characterized these statements as a “façade” with no meaningful reform. He suggested that the program would “continue in a different manner,” making it “more difficult for donors and the international community to monitor it.”
The PA-linked Palestinian National Economic Empowerment Institution (Tamkeen) has contested these allegations, stating in December that “the payment system linked to the number of years of imprisonment has been completely and permanently abolished and is no longer in effect in any way.” Tamkeen characterized Israeli claims about the program’s continuation as “deliberate misinformation and falsification of facts.”
Michael criticized Western European leaders who recognized an independent Palestinian state in 2025, arguing they did so without ensuring it would not sponsor terrorism. “Western leaders, the British prime minister, the French president and the Spanish prime minister are rushing and running to recognize a Palestinian state, and they don’t care what takes place under the Palestinian Authority in the territories,” he said.
The controversy occurs against the backdrop of broader regional tensions following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Michael warned that if Hamas is not dismantled and disarmed in Gaza, “it will be another achievement of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.”
International donors, including the United States and European nations, have long grappled with the challenge of providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians while ensuring funds don’t support terrorism. The Taylor Force Act represented one legislative attempt to address this concern, but monitoring the flow of funds has remained difficult amid complex regional politics and security challenges.
The Israeli government maintains that the PA’s financial support for attackers and their families creates incentives for violence, while Palestinian officials have characterized these payments as social welfare for families who have lost breadwinners.
Multiple requests for comment from the Palestinian Authority, the U.S. State Department, and the American Embassy in Jerusalem regarding the allegations were not immediately answered.
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12 Comments
This attack is heartbreaking. The PA’s continued support for terrorism, despite international condemnation, is a major obstacle to peace. Stronger action is needed to hold them accountable.
The Israeli Foreign Minister is right to call out the PA’s deception. Funneling money to terrorists and their families is a reprehensible policy that undermines any genuine efforts toward a peaceful resolution.
Condemning the PA’s duplicitous attempts to disguise payments to militants as pensions is the right thing to do. Israel has every right to demand an end to this abhorrent practice.
Agreed. The international community should pressure the PA to cease all payments to terrorists and their families. Tackling this issue is crucial for peace and security.
Condemning the PA’s duplicity in disguising terrorist payments is the right move. Ending this practice is crucial for progress toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Tragic attack in Israel. The PA’s ‘pay-for-slay’ policy is deeply concerning and must be addressed. Funding terrorism is never acceptable, regardless of political motivations.
Deeply disturbing news. The PA’s support for terrorism through its ‘pay-for-slay’ policy is unacceptable and must be addressed. Israel deserves security and peace, free from such attacks.
This attack is heartbreaking. The PA’s continued funding of terrorism, even in the face of international criticism, is a major obstacle to peace. Stronger pressure is needed to stop this.
Condemning the PA’s duplicity in disguising terrorist payments is the right move. Ending this practice is crucial for progress toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Tragic loss of life. The PA’s ‘pay-for-slay’ program is abhorrent and must be stopped. Israel has a legitimate right to defend its citizens against such acts of terror.
Deeply disturbing news. The PA’s support for terrorism through its ‘pay-for-slay’ policy is unacceptable and must be addressed. Israel deserves security and peace, free from such attacks.
Tragic loss of life. The PA’s ‘pay-for-slay’ program is a reprehensible policy that undermines any genuine efforts toward a peaceful resolution. Israel has a right to protect its citizens.