Is your country’s money going to help Palestinian terrorists? Illustrative banner of terrorists and Dome of the Rock. By Joshua Spurlock
Financial aid to the Palestinians has become a goal of global proportions—but what happens when that money goes to terrorists? Norway, for their part, has said that practice must stop. Israel thanked Norway on Monday for the stand, with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director General Dr. Dore Gold speaking to the Norwegian Ambassador to Israel, Jon Hanssen-Bauer.
According to an Israeli press release on the discussion posted to the MFA website, the Norwegians have told the Palestinians that their donations should not be used to support convicted terrorists and their families. Dr. Gold was quoted as saying the Palestinian funding practice, “completely contradicts what peace is all about.” Gold wasn’t the only one concerned about the funds or thanking the Norwegian government.
Jørund Rytman a pro-Israel member of the Norwegian parliament, discussed the Palestinian funds with Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende, according to Norwegian news website Dagen. The report said that Rytman was happy with Brende’s pressure on the Palestinians to put a stop to the financial support of terrorists.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry chose not to highlight Brende’s pressuring the Palestinians in their recap of a May 3 meeting on Twitter. The tweet said that the meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was a “good follow-up”.
Dr. Gold highlighted the obscenity of the payments and that everyone should be taking a hard line on it. Said Dr. Gold, “It is outrageous that killing Israelis has become a source of income for many in the PA… These payments incentivize terrorism and must be stopped.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, May 16, 2016)