Likud MK Avi Dichter responded on Monday to the report that Israel had attempted to secretly pass millions of shekels to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
According to the report, Israel secretly transferred millions of shekels to the Palestinian Authority to help it avoid collapse - only to have the PA refuse to accept the funds.
Speaking to Reshet Bet, Dichter said, "[Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud] Abbas understands very well that if Israel had not carried out Operation Defensive Shield and destroyed the terror infrastructure in Judea and Samaria, Abbas would be traveling the world as a spokesperson of the former Palestinian Authority."
"When the Palestinian Authority fights terror, it's not for the State of Israel. Eight percent of the PA's budget goes to paying terrorists' salaries. You can't fund terror and ask Israel to ensure your stability at the same time."
In February, Israel implemented a law to offset the PA's payments to terrorists. In response, Abbas promised that the PA would not accept partial funds from Israel, and deducted 50% from the salaries of PA employees in order to pay terrorists and their families the full amounts promised to them.