PA pays workers 60% of salaries - yet pays terrorist families 100%

Last month, as well as for the two previous months, the Palestinian Authority was only able to pay 60% of normal salaries to its workers because of its precarious financial situation.

Yet today, the PA announced that the families of "martyrs" will receive their full stipends this month, just as they did last month. The decision was made by the minister of finance, Shukri Bishara.

At the same time, the EU and the Netherlands announced that they are giving some $34.2 million (€31.6 million) to the Palestinian Authority for payment of its civil servants’ March salaries and pensions. It is unclear whether those funds are being channeled to the families of "martyrs" directly, although of course they allow the PA to have latitude to spend more on their terrorist heroes.

It is estimated that some 6% of the PA budget is allocated to paying salaries and stipends to terrorists (both in Israeli jails and after they are released) as well as to their families.