World Jewish News

Amjad and Hakim Awad

British government denies Mail on Sunday's claims that UK aid is going to convicted Palestinian terrorists

The British government denied claims that British aid is being used to pay salaries to convicted Palestinian terrorists.

The denial came in response to a report published in the Mail on Sunday which claims that money from the UK’s foreign aid budget sent to the Palestinian Authority is handed to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), which in turn makes payments to convicted terrorists, some in Israeli prisons, and their families.

A government spokeswoman said: “This allegation is simply incorrect. We have extensive precautions in place to ensure that UK money does not support terror groups or organisations.”

The government said that there were strict measures to ensure that funding was only used as intended and insisted it did not provide any funding to the PLO.

“UK aid is spent where it is most needed and is subject to rigorous internal and external checks and scrutiny at all stages,’’ the spokesperson said.

But the Mail on Sunday reported that British cash was provided to the PLO until last year and that the Palestinian Authority (PA) A boasts of paying convicted terrorists in its own official statements.

A PA official defended the payments. Amr Nasser, adviser to the minister of social affairs, is quoted as saying: “These people are heroes. We could be giving them much more money and it would not be enough."

Reported to be among the recipients of British cash are Amjad and Hakim Awad, who killed Ehud and Ruth Fogel and their three children in Itamar in 2011. It is estimated that Amjad may have been paid up to £16,000 (€20,000).

A report due to be published by Palestinian Media Watch claims that Hamas terrorists have been given over £100,000 (€127,000), while payments have been made to the relatives of suicide bombers and to teenagers involved in the current surge of violence that has engulfed Israel.

The Mail on Sunday report also claims that the government will send the Palestinian Authority up to £25.5 million (€32,4 million) this year and that president Mahmoud Abbas – whose budget is dependent on foreign aid – has spent £8 million (€10,7 million) on a new luxury palace.

EJP