Study: Israel Fails to Stop Money Flowing to Terrorists in Prison

A study by the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs (JCFA) finds that Israel is failing to stop the flow of funds from the Palestinian Authority to terrorists in prison – more than 20 million shekels per month. Only about 15% of the amount for which seizure orders were issued has been seized. The PA bypasses banks using mail and dedicated ATMs.

A new study by the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs (JCFA) finds that Israel is failing to stop the flow of funds from the Palestinian Authority to terrorists imprisoned in Israel. According to the study, the PA continues to transfer more than 20 million shekels per month, in violation of Israeli law and contrary to Abu Mazen's commitment to the US. Israel has issued seizure orders for 50 million shekels since 2019, but only about 15% of that amount has actually been seized. The PA has found ways to bypass the banking system – initially by distributing cash through the mail, and later through dedicated ATMs not connected to the regular banking system. The study was conducted by Lt. Col. (res.) attorney Maurice Hirsch, a former military prosecutor, who proposes a series of steps: mapping and seizing funds from the ATMs, expanding asset seizure of terrorists, initiating criminal proceedings against PA officials – including Abu Mazen, Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa, and Finance Minister Stefan Salameh – and promoting legislation to impose fines on terrorists equal to the expected payments. The study also calls for expanding the implementation of the 2023 citizenship revocation law, under which only two proceedings have been opened so far.