Foreign Ministry Director-General Dore Gold thanked Norway on Sunday for blocking foreign aid payments that were being used to funnel funds to Arab terrorists by the Palestinian Authority.
Gold spoke with the Norwegian Ambassador Jon Hanssen-Bauer in order to express Israel’s appreciation with the decision taken by Norway’s Foreign Minister Børge Bren regarding Norway’s financial contribution to the Palestinian Authority’s coffers.
Norway has made clear that under no circumstances would it contribute funds that would be transferred to support convicted terrorists and their families.
D-G Gold stated that Israel supports aid to the Palestinian Authority — as long as such aid does not incentivize terrorism.
“It is outrageous that killing Israelis has become a source of income for many in the PA,” Gold said. “This completely contradicts what peace is all about. These payments incentivize terrorism and must be stopped,” he added.
Earlier this month, Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende met with PA leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and told him that the “extensive support program” of his government, making payments to security prisoners (terrorists) in Israeli jails, is unacceptable and should stop.
The payment program was first exposed by the Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) watchdog organization in 2011.