Staff Reports
A newly translated radio clip has blown a hole in the Palestinian Authority’s public promises. Palestinian Media Watch released a translation of a Hebron radio interview in which Fatah spokesman in Gaza Mundhir Al‑Hayek plainly said, “We did not stop the payment of salaries.” The clip explains how the PA has been routing what critics call “pay‑for‑slay” stipends to prisoners, released attackers, and families of those killed — even after a supposed reform.
The admission in plain language
Al‑Hayek’s words are short and direct. He told listeners the PA did not stop paying “salaries” to prisoners and “martyrs,” and he described workarounds to get money into Gaza. Palestinian Media Watch posted the translation and the radio clip. If the translation is accurate, this is not a slip of the tongue. It reads like an instruction manual for hiding payments.
How the PA routes pay‑for‑slay money
PNEEI, powers of attorney, and the revolving door
The spokesman described powers of attorney, transfers through West Bank intermediaries, and routing through institutions the PA created after international pressure — including the so‑called PNEEI. Watchdogs say the PA has also been reclassifying recipients as civil servants or pensioners and using offices abroad or postal networks to move cash. One watchdog recently estimated roughly $315 million a year in hidden payments under conservative assumptions. Call it accounting sleight of hand.
Why this matters for U.S. aid and Israeli policy
This is not just a media stunt. U.S. law and Israeli policy already try to stop these stipends. The Taylor Force Act conditions some American aid on an end to terror payments. Israel’s freeze law allows tax transfers to be reduced by the amount the PA pays to attackers. If the PA kept paying after promising reform, donor governments and courts have reason to reopen reviews and enforcement actions. Taxpayers deserve answers, not theater.
What should happen next
First, get the tape, verify the translation, and force a clear answer from the PA and Fatah. Second, the U.S. State Department and Treasury should review conditional aid under the Taylor Force Act and demand audits. Congress should subpoena records if necessary. And Israel should use every legal tool available to prevent its funds from subsidizing terror. This clip is a red flag. It should not be waved away with more polite denials and more money.
