Former Palestinian Chief Negotiator Nabil Saath ruled out the cessation of payments to imprisoned terrorists, telling Palestinian National Television Sunday: "We will never stop caring for these men and their families. These men are heroes."

Shaath also denied that the United States had asked the Palestinian Authority to cease paying terrorists' families. "The Israelis leaked the story that the United States asked to stop the payments to the prisoners and their families, and to stop the incitement. That is not true" he said.

"They did not demand anything."

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas concurred with Shaath on the cessation of payments, telling Israel's Kan 11 that "I do not intend to cease paying salaries to the families of prisoners and martyrs, even if it means I lose my position."