UK denies claims aid going to convicted Palestinian terrorists
The Government has denied claims that British aid is being used to pay salaries to convicted Palestinian terrorists.
A report published in the Mail on Sunday claims that money from the UK’s foreign aid budget sent to the Palestinian Authority is handed to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), which in turn makes payments to convicted terrorists, some in Israeli prisons, and their families.
But Department for International Development officials have hit back at the “incorrect” claims.
A government spokeswoman said: “This allegation is simply incorrect. We have extensive precautions in place to ensure that UK money does not support terror groups or organisations.”
The Mail on Sunday report also claims that the Government will send the Palestinian Authority up to £25.5 million this year and that president Mahmoud Abbas – whose budget is dependent on foreign aid – has spent £8 million on a new luxury palace. Former civil servants no longer working are reportedly still collecting their monthly salaries.
MP Jacob Rees-Mogg told the paper: “This is a bad way of spending public money. So much of this money is going on deeply silly and unnecessary things.”
The Government said that there were strict measures to ensure that funding was only used as intended and insisted it did not provide any funding to the PLO.
A spokeswoman said: “UK aid is spent where it is most needed and is subject to rigorous internal and external checks and scrutiny at all stages.
“The Government has realigned the UK’s aid strategy, cutting wasteful programmes and making sure spending is firmly in the UK’s national interest.
“Alongside an increased defence budget and the UK’s world class diplomatic service, our aid programme is helping to create a more prosperous and stable world in which the UK can stand tall and flourish.
“This is an approach that works; it has helped reduce the threat to the UK from Ebola in west Africa, it is targeting the root causes of the migration crisis, and it is increasing economic prospects in fragile states to counter extremism and help build our future trading partners.”
The Mail on Sunday has launched a petition calling on the Government to scrap the law requiring the UK to spend a fixed 0.7 per cent of national wealth on foreign aid.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
