The 20-Year Reign of Mahmoud Abbas
A Legacy of Terror, Rejectionism, and Corruption
Today, January 9th, 2025, marks 20 years since Mahmoud Abbas became president of the Palestinian Authority (PA). A tragic example of political terrorism, violence, and international legitimization. Abbas' tenure has been defined not by progress or reform, but by corruption, the rejection of peace, and the continued support for terrorism, all while perpetuating a narrative of victimhood.
Mahmoud Abbas, born on March 26, 1935, in Safed (then part of British Mandate for Palestine), has become one of the most prominent Palestinian political figures, after Yasser Arafat. After his family left to Syria in 1948, Abbas pursued higher education, first at the University of Damascus and then at Moscow State University, where he earned a PhD in history. His doctoral thesis, “The Relationship Between Zionists and Nazis, 1933-1945”, which questioned the scale of the Holocaust and suggested Zionist collaboration with Nazi Germany became a cornerstone of his later political narrative.
Mahmoud Abbas comes from a paternal Jewish family, with his ancestors being rabbinic Jews who had lived in Safed. In the early 19th century, after a devastating earthquake in 1837, the Jews of Safed were forced to convert to Islam by the Muslim authorities, and Abbas's paternal lineage was among those who were forced into this conversion.
Arafat used Abbas’s Jewish ancestry to undermine his standing. One notable incident involved a sign reading "wikalat al-yahud" or "The Jewish Agency" in Arabic, being placed on Abbas’s office door in Tunisia. This was a clear attempt to accuse him of being a spy for Israel, a move meant to manipulate Abbas by exploiting his Jewish roots. When Arafat wanted to remind Mahmoud Abbas who was in charge, Arafat would yell anta yahudi—“You are a Jew!”
Abbas' political career began in the 1950s when he joined the Fatah movement, which was led by Yasser Arafat. In the mid-1950s, Abbas became heavily involved in underground Palestinian politics, joining a number of exiled Palestinians in Qatar, where he was Director of Personnel in the emirate's Civil Service. He became a key figure, focusing on managing finances, international relations, and promoting Palestinian nationalism.
Mahmoud Abbas is accused of being involved in the logistics and funding of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September. According to a U.S. State Department telegram, Fatah launched the attack under the The Black September Organization, as cover
“USG [United States Government] has information that Fatah is in fact parent body of BSO. … The Black September Organization is a cover term for Fatah’s terrorist operations executed by Fatah’s intelligence organization … For all intents and purposes no significant distinction now can be made between the BSO and Fatah.” - US State Department Telegram
The State Department is not the only source of this information. One of the planners of the attack, Mohammed Oudeh, also known as “Abu Daoud,” confirmed the links between Fatah and BSO
“There is no such organization as Black September. Fatah announces its own operations under this name so that Fatah will not appear as the direct executor of the operation.” - Abu Daoud , Jordanian newspaper Al-Dustur in 1972
Abu Daoud, in his book From Jerusalem to Munich, published in 1999, wrote that Mahmoud Abbas personally arranged the funding for the Munich attack.
Mahmoud Abbas, who was deeply involved in the PLO leadership, was a key architect of the PLO’s Ten Point Plan of 1974. The plan presented a phased approach to “Palestinian statehood”, ultimately calling for the destruction of Israel. The plan sought the establishment of a Palestinian state in the Judea, Samaria and Gaza, but it made clear that the ultimate goal was the liberation of all of “Palestine” and use gained territory as a launchpad for terrorism. It rejected the legitimacy of Israel and aimed for its eventual replacement with a “Palestinian state”.
The plan in brief:
Through the "armed struggle" (terrorism), to establish an "independent combatant national authority" over any territory that is "liberated" from Israeli rule. (Article 2)
To continue the struggle against Israel, using the territory of the national authority as a base of operations. (Article 4)
To provoke an all-out war in which Israel's Arab neighbors destroy it entirely ("liberate all Palestinian territory"). (Article 8)
In the immediate aftermath of the Iranian revolution, Mahmoud Abbas, as part of the PLO delegation, traveled to Tehran with Yasser Arafat, taking over the former Israeli Diplomatic Mission as the Embassy of the PLO in Tehran. Mahmoud Abbas is said to have explained the Plan of Phases strategy to Arab reporters in Teheran. As a prominent figure in the PLO, Abbas worked behind the scenes to implement the plan.
In the 1980s, Mahmoud Abbas, according to Soviet Documents, was working as a KGB spy in Damascus, Syria. Document from the Mitrokhin archive, which were smuggled out by KGB defector Vasily Mitrokhins, were later analyzed by Israeli researchers Isabella Ginor and Gideon Remez, suggest that Abbas was operating under the code name "Krotov,", assisting Soviet intelligence. Abbas’s role in the Soviet operations reportedly took place while Mikhail Bogdanov, who later became Vladimir Putin's envoy to the Middle East, was stationed in Damascus.
The KGB had long been involved in supporting various Palestinian factions, including the PLO, and provided funding and arms to groups like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The reports from the Mitrokhin archive align with earlier intelligence claims, which indicated that the Soviet Union had provided significant support to the PLO and other Palestinian factions, such as training their operatives and facilitating their activities since their formation. Abbas, who had close ties with Soviet-backed movements, was said to have played a key role in coordinating such efforts.
Mahmoud Abbas significant role in the “10 Point Plan” is manifested in the 1993 Oslo Accords, they call him the “architect” of Oslo, built upon the principles of the Ten Point Plan, where Abbas, as a negotiator, signed the agreement with Israel, alongside Arafat, as the representative of the PLO.
The Oslo Accords of 1993, in essence, can be seen as setting in motion the PLO’s longstanding strategy, outlined in the 1974 Ten Point Plan, to ultimately dismantle Israel by gaining control of strategically important territories. While the Accords have been presented as a “step toward peace”, they allowed the PLO to take control of key areas in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, territories critical to Israel’s security.
After the singing of the Oslo Accords, Abbas, serving in various positions within the PA, including as head of the Palestinian negotiating team, focused on diplomacy and attempting to secure international recognition for Palestinian Statehood. His tenure saw significant corruption within the PA, a lack of reform, and a failure to control terrorist groups during the second intifada.
In 2003, Abbas briefly served as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority under President Yasser Arafat. However, his tenure was short-lived as he resigned after just a few months due to his inability to assert power over Arafat, who still controlled the PA’s decision-making.
Having delved into Abbas' complex journey to power, shaped by strategic alliances, historical controversies, and a deeply ingrained rejection of peace, we now shift focus to the last two decades of his reign—an era characterized by corruption, the glorification of terrorism, and the continuous sabotage of opportunities.
2005: Presidential Elections win
On January 9th, 2005, Abbas inherited a PA on the brink of collapse, after Arafat's death. He promised to be a leader of “peace and negotiations”. However, his presidency soon became synonymous with refusal to engage in meaningful peace talks with Israel and support for terrorism. Despite multiple opportunities to secure a deal, Abbas repeatedly rejected peace offers that would have led to an independent Palestinian state.
2006: Parliamentary Elections Defeat
In 2006, the Arab-Palestinians elected Hamas—largely as a reaction to the corruption and inefficiency of Fatah, Abbas' political party. Hamas won a majority of the seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), securing 74 out of 132 seats, not only in Gaza but also in Judea and Samaria. Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas at the time, emerged as the Prime Minister following the victory.
2007: Civil War and the Split of Territories
The 2006 election, in which Hamas won a majority of seats, quickly led to a violent power struggle between Hamas and Fatah. By 2007, this escalated into a brutal civil war, with Hamas, led by Ismail Haniyeh, violently seizing control of Gaza. Hamas carried out executions, including throwing Fatah members off buildings and murdering others in the streets. The violence culminated in Hamas' complete takeover of Gaza, while Fatah retained control of the West Bank. This conflict divided the territories, with Gaza under Hamas rule and the West Bank governed by the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah.
2007: The Annapolis Conference
In 2007, a U.S.-led peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, was meant to bring both Israel and the Palestinians to the negotiating table. At the time, U.S. President George W. Bush was leading the push for a two-state solution. Despite initial support from Mahmoud Abbas, who hoped to use the conference as a platform for advancing Palestinian statehood, he ultimately walked away with nothing substantial.
2008: Olmert’s Offer
Then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel presented a far-reaching offer that included 93% of the Judea and Samaria, with land swap to make up for the remaining 7%, a shared capital in Jerusalem and infrastructure connecting Gaza and the West Bank. Abbas not only rejected the proposal but failed to make a counteroffer. His refusal to compromise dashed any hopes of a negotiated two-state solution and cemented his reputation as a leader unwilling to make peace in favor to continued efforts to destroy the Jewish State.
2009: Legitimacy of Mahmoud Abbas’s Presidency in Question
Since 2009, Abbas has faced significant controversy regarding the legitimacy of his presidency after his term officially ended on January 9, 2009. Despite this, he remained in office, arguing that the Palestinian Basic Law allowed him to extend his term until new elections could be held. This decision was contested by Hamas, which declared him illegitimate and claimed that the presidency should have passed to the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Ahmed Bahar, a senior member of Hamas. Abbas's extension of his presidency amounted to a power grab, undermining democratic processes.
2009: Start of Claims of “Genocide”
On January 14, 2009, Abbas described the Israeli military offensive in Gaza as an "aggression against our people," accusing Israel of attempting to "wipe out" the Palestinian population. This statement came amid Operation Cast Lead and was part of a broader campaign of propaganda and false accusations against Israel’s response to rocket attacks from Gaza. Hamas blamed Mahmoud Abbas for his ‘failure to stop Israeli aggressions’ which escalated tensions between the Hamas and Fatah.
2010: Political terrorism and legal warfare
In 2010, instead of pursuing peace and negotiations, Mahmoud Abbas chose a path of political terrorism and legal warfare. Abbas refused to have direct talks with Israel and turned to the international stage and diplomatic terrorism, seeking unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state through the United Nations. This move was a deliberate attempt to bypass negotiations and impose Palestinian demands on Israel.
2011-2012: The Start of Mahmoud Abbas Legal Warfare against Israel
In May, 2011, Abbas escalated his confrontational strategy. In a New York Times op-ed, he openly discussed his approach of "legal warfare" against Israel, using international law as a tool to delegitimize the Jewish state. His push for UN membership in 2011 was blocked by the United States in the Security Council when Abbas submitted his application for formal recognition, but it revealed his new strategy for diplomatic terrorism over dialogue. Ever since, Abbas has prioritized fabricated lawsuits and UN resolutions over negotiations, focusing on isolating Israel globally rather than seeking peace.
In 2012, Abbas further sabotaged the peace process by pushing through UN General Assembly Resolution 67/19, granting the Palestinian Authority the status of a "non-member observer ‘State’." This move was a deliberate and planned move, with the help of United Nations and ICC court members who provided the blueprint, after its failed attempt to join the ICC in 2009. This move allowed the Palestinian Authority, against the Rome Statue and the Oslo Accords, to join the ICC on April 1, 2015 and pursue legal warfare against Israel with fabricated allegations and crimes, as outlined by Anne Herzberg, Legal Advisor for NGO Monitor.
2012: Abbas Strengthens Ties with Iran
In 2012, as Hamas was losing support in the region and forced to close its offices in Damascus, relocating its leadership to Qatar and replacing their Iranian financial backing with Qatari money, Mahmoud Abbas’ strengthen ties with Iran, Abbas traveled to Iran to discuss a “unity government” with Hamas, showing that Hamas’s goals and those of Mahmoud Abbas are the same. While Abbas continued to present himself as a moderate alternative, he exposed the hypocrisy of the rhetoric.
Abbas alignment with Iran, part of a long history of alignment between the PLO and the Iranian Regime, reaffirmed how the Palestinian Authority was not an advocate for peace but a group of “terrorists in suits.” The alliance proves that Abbas’s commitment to peace, just like Arafat’s is nothing more than a façade, and that his true priorities lay in perpetuating the conflict and seeking for the destruction of Israel.
2013-2014: Abbas Refuses to Acknowledge Israel as a Jewish State
In 2014, Mahmoud Abbas rejected a key Israeli demand during peace talks, refusing to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, with the Arab League joining his rejection. This refusal came as part of ongoing negotiations, since 2013, under U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and President Obama, who were attempting to revive the peace process and establish a Palestinian State. Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had repeatedly called for recognition of Israel’s Jewish identity as a foundational element for any peace agreement.
2015: Abbas Incites Violence and Encourages Terrorism
In 2015, Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian Authority leaders, publicly incited violence against Israelis by pushing the false narrative that Israel was threatening Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a claim that sparked a wave of terror attacks against Israelis. Abbas’ rhetoric, which included accusing Israel of desecrating the mosque, was designed to incite anger and violence against jews, directly contributing to a surge in terror attacks. Israel urged the United Nations with a letter addressed to the UN Security Council and Secretary General General Ban Ki-moon, to condemn the rhetoric, something that never happened.
“Al-Aqsa is ours and so is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. They (Israelis) have no right to desecrate them with their filthy feet. We won’t allow them to do so and we will do whatever we can to defend Jerusalem….Each drop of blood that was spilled in Jerusalem is pure blood as long as it’s for the sake of Allah. Every shahid (martyr) will be in heaven and every wounded person will be rewarded, by Allah’s will” - Mahmoud Abbas September 16, 2015
2016: Abbas Calls for International Criminal Court to Investigate Israel
In 2016, Mahmoud Abbas took one more step in his lawfare against Israel, calling for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel for alleged war crimes, in particular, in relation to the construction of settlements in Judea and Samaria. Rather than accepting the right of Jews to live in these territories and pursuing peace talks, Abbas chose to escalate the situation by seeking legal action against Israel, using international forums to apply pressure and isolate the Jewish state diplomatically.
Soon after Abbas made his call for the ICC, U.S. President Barack Obama, in the final days of his presidency, allowed a resolution at the UN Security Council to pass declaring the "settlements illegal under international law." This resolution not only violated the civil and human rights of the Jewish people to reside in their ancestral homeland, violating also the UN Charter, specifically Article 80, which affirms the rights of Jews to settle in territories such as Judea and Samaria under the League of Nations mandate. The resolution was a politically motivated attack against Israel’s legitimacy and sovereignty, undermining any potential for a fair and lasting peace in the region.
2017: Rejection of U.S. Peace Efforts
On December, 2017, Mahmoud Abbas publicly rejected any U.S. peace plan following the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He called the United States as a "dishonest mediator" in the peace process, a move that only escalated tensions between the Palestinian leadership and the U.S. Abbas' refusal to engage with the U.S. further diminished any hopes for a successful negotiation process and raised doubts about his commitment to a two-state solution.
"The United States has proven to be a dishonest mediator in the peace process and we will no longer accept any plan from the United States…" - Mahmoud Abbas
2017: Indefinite Postponement of Elections
On 2017, Abbas indefinitely postponed the elections that were scheduled for July, which would have been the first such elections in over a decade. This decision came amid growing calls for democratic reform and was widely seen as an attempt by Abbas to cling to power. The move triggered widespread frustration among Palestinians, many of whom viewed the delay as a reflection of Abbas’ refusal to relinquish authority.
2018: The PA’s Terrorist Payments – ‘Pay-to-Slay’ is a Priority
Perhaps the most infamous policy of the Palestinian Authority is its “pay-to-slay” program, something that has existed since the 1964, where terrorists, including those who have murdered Israeli civilians, are rewarded with monthly salaries. This system not only incentivizes terrorism but also glorifies the killing of innocents. The PA spends millions of dollars every year paying terrorists and their families.
This commitment to funding violence over Palestinian welfare was highlighted during the Trump’s first administration, which defunded the PA and UNRWA after passing the Taylor Force Act in 2018. In response, Abbas infamously declared, “We will not stop paying the salaries of prisoners and martyrs, and we will give the last penny to the families of the martyrs and prisoners.” This statement revealed his prioritization of terrorism over the well-being of the Palestinian people.
2018: Abbas’s Holocaust Denial
In 2018, Mahmoud Abbas ignited a diplomatic firestorm with his remarks during a 90-minute address in Ramallah, where he claimed that the Holocaust was not caused by Nazi hatred of Jews, but rather by "the social behavior" of Jews. This statement, along with other controversial comments, sparked the harshest wave of international condemnation directed at him. Israel, the United States, and surprisingly even a United Nations official used some of the strongest diplomatic language to denounce Abbas. The New York Times editorial board went as far as calling for his resignation, and even the Palestinian rights group in Germany condemned the speech, labeling it anti-Semitic.
2020: Rejecting the “Deal of the Century”
When Donald Trump proposed the “Deal of the Century” in 2020, Abbas alongside the Arab League and the United Nations rejected it outright. Not only did he refuse to negotiate with Israel, but he also dismissed any chance of peace under American leadership. Abbas’ strategy was simple: no peace, no compromise, just the perpetuation of a status quo that kept him in power but leaves Arab-Palestinians without hope.
In 2020, Mahmoud Abbas also presented maps at the United Nations Security Council that falsely depicted the “loss of Palestinian land since 1947”, aiming to portray Israel as the aggressor in a situation where the Palestinians were “unfairly deprived of their rightful territory”. However, these maps, now famous, are misleading and dishonest, as they ignore critical historical and legal facts. The territory shown as "Palestine" on the maps never existed, the 1947 UN Partition Plan, which proposed a Jewish and an Arab state, was outright rejected by the Arab nations, and areas Abbas claimed to be today Palestinian, are actually the result of the Oslo Accords, agreements in which Israel ceded administrative control in parts of Judea, Samaria and Gaza to the Palestinian Authority in exchange for peace, an agreement followed by increased terrorism.
This controversial move was not only a significant propaganda tool to push the narrative of “Palestinian territorial claims” but also important because it was officially sanctioned by the UN. The display of these misleading maps required approval from the UN's Protocol and Liaison Services, indicating that the UN had tacitly allowed this politicized act and propaganda to take place in an official forum.
2021: Mahmoud Abbas delays Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, Again…
In 2021, Mahmoud Abbas made the controversial decision to delay the Palestinian legislative elections, which had been scheduled for May 2021. The elections were widely seen as a vital step toward rejuvenating Palestinian politics and providing a democratic outlet after more than 15 years of Abbas’s leadership without any elections. However, Abbas’s decision to postpone the elections was presented as a result of “Israel’s refusal to permit voting in East Jerusalem”. In reality, the delay was primarily about consolidating his own power and avoiding a potential challenge from Hamas, which had been gaining popularity ahead of the elections. This move further damaged his credibility, both within Palestine and on the international stage, reinforcing the perception that Abbas was more focused on preserving his political position than enabling democratic processes for the Palestinian people.
2022: Abbas Refuses to Apologize for 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre, accuses Israel of committing 50 Holocausts”
In 2022, Mahmoud Abbas faced significant international criticism after he refused to apologize for the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September. During a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Abbas was asked about the massacre and whether he would apologize. Instead of offering an apology, Abbas deflected the question, saying that "Israel is a state of terror" and accusing it of committing "50 holocausts" against the Palestinian people.
2023: Abbas denies Jewish ties to Temple Mount, compares Israel to Nazis
In a statement delivered at the United Nations on May 15th, 2023, marking the 75th anniversary of the "Nakba," Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas once again denied the Jewish connection to Jerusalem's Temple Mount, referencing the adjacent Western Wall and al-Aqsa Mosque. Abbas claimed that there is no proof of Jewish ties to the area, stating
“They [Israel] dug under al-Aqsa… they dug everywhere, and they could not find anything…”
During the event he also compared “Israel’s rendition of its historical narrative” to the kind of misinformation disseminated by Nazi propaganda minister Goebbels during World War II.
"They lie and lie just like Goebbels. They lie, lie, and lie until people believe…”
His remarks came during an event that effectively labeled the creation of the state of Israel as a "catastrophe" (Nakba), an event approved as part of UN Resolution 77/23, passed on November 30th 2022.
2023: Abbas Blames Israel for October 7th Attack
In response to the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expressed “solidarity with the Palestinian people” while framing the situation as a “continuation of their struggle against Israeli occupation”. Abbas emphasized the Palestinians' right to self-defense against "terrorism of settlers and occupation forces" but made no mention of the Hamas attack itself. He also called for bolstering Palestinian resilience against Israeli actions and the PA Foreign Ministry blamed Israel for the attack.
Since October 7th, Abbas has used diplomatic terrorism against Israel, and constantly accusing Israel of “genocide” while pushing for UN recognition and dozens of resolutions at the United Nations aimed at delegitimizing Israel's right to exist and defend itself. Despite his frequent accusations that Israel is committing "genocide" in Gaza, Abbas's lack of action contradicts his claims. In 2012, Abbas offered to allow Palestinian refugees from Syria to resettle in the West Bank or Gaza amidst the Syrian civil war. However, with Gaza, Abbas has not extended any such offer to those wanting to flee the current conflict, revealing that his accusations of genocide are politically motivated and not backed by tangible actions to protect his people.
2024: Abbas calls the U.S. “The Plague”
On August 15, 2024, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delivered an address before the Turkish parliament, in which he prayed for the soul of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, whom he referred to as a "martyr." In his speech, Abbas criticized the United States, calling America “the plague.” He emphasized that the Palestinian struggle is grounded in the principles of "victory or martyrdom" and Implementing Sharia law.
2025: A civil war in Judea and Samaria
As Mahmoud Abbas enters his 20th year in power, he finds himself facing a crisis eerily reminiscent of the one he encountered at the start of his tenure: a civil war in Judea and Samaria. The situation has deteriorated to the point where violent infighting between Palestinian factions is threatening the PA’s grip on power, leading to widespread instability. This chaos mirrors the 2007 Gaza conflict when Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah forces.
With the PA's authority in serious jeopardy, Israel has now approved more intense military operations to prevent a similar takeover in the West Bank. These operations could involve targeted actions against terrorist groups and factions aiming to destabilize the region, echoing Israel’s past interventions aimed at quelling the rise of Hamas. The growing volatility and the looming threat of a Hamas-like takeover have placed Israel in a difficult position, as it faces the prospect of further intervention in PA controlled territories to maintain regional stability.
As Mahmoud Abbas marks today 20 years in power, his refusal to condemn Hamas for slaughtering Israelis since October 7th reached a new level of depravity, now claiming Israel has over 2 million Palestinians "Hostage" in Gaza
Mahmoud Abbas has clung to power for over two decades, now nearing 90 years old, and throughout his tenure as leader of the Palestinian Authority, he has consistently demonstrated a commitment not to peace, but to perpetuating a vision of violence and hatred toward Israel. From his early days as a terrorist to his continued endorsement of extremist rhetoric and actions, Abbas has proven time and again that he is no partner for peace. The international community's persistent push to "revitalize" the PA—despite its clear record of undermining peace efforts—can only be seen as either naive or complicit in furthering the agenda of those seeking Israel's destruction.
Mahmoud Abbas’s Decades of Corruption
Mahmoud Abbas has long been accused of corruption, with numerous reports highlighting the extensive embezzlement and mismanagement of funds within the Palestinian Authority. While exact figures are difficult to confirm, estimates suggest that Abbas's personal net worth could be as high as $1.2 billion, largely accumulated by the diversion of international aid, which was intended to support the Palestinian people, into his own personal coffers and those of his inner circle. This theft has been facilitated by the continued financial support from the international community, which has provided billions in aid to the Palestinians. Despite these allegations, the international community continues to funnel funds to the PA
Palestinian Authority Schools: Incubators of Hate
PA schools and the curriculum have been well-documented as sources of radicalization. Like the schools run by UNRWA, the PA’s educational institutions glorify violence and martyrdom. Children are taught that Jews are their enemies and that violence is justified in the pursuit of “Liberating Palestine”. Nearly 100 schools, squares and youth centers are named after terrorists and Nazi collaborators.
This indoctrination also includes summer camps organized by the PA encouraging children to become soldiers in their ideological war against Israel. Abbas’ government also fosters youth involvement in violence through state-sponsored military training. Summer camps operated by the PA have become breeding grounds for young recruits, who are trained to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians, rather than being educated to pursue peaceful solutions or develop their communities.
The PA’s Direct Involvement in Terrorism
The Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF), originally formed as part of the Oslo Accords in the mid-1990s, were meant to serve as a law enforcement body dedicated to maintaining order and peace in Palestinian territories. However, from the start, they have increasingly been implicated in supporting terrorist activities, both directly and indirectly.
The Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) have long been implicated in direct and indirect support for terror. Every month, there are reports of PASF members being involved in or facilitating attacks against Israeli civilians—on average, 2-3 attacks per month, approximately 12% of those imprisoned for terror-related offenses in Palestinian prisons are members of the PASF. These forces, which are meant to be dedicated to law enforcement, have morphed into a military arm of the PA's support for terrorism.
The PASF has been financed and trained by the U.S., the European Union, and other international actors as part of their commitment to “fostering security and stability in the region”. These efforts were designed to create a Palestinian police force capable of enforcing law and order in Palestinian territories.
It is not just the PASF, violent groups operating under Hamas and Islamic Jihad that perpetrate terror. In fact, over 50% of Palestinian terrorists in Israeli prisons belong to Fatah, the very political party that controls the PA. Abbas, as the leader of Fatah, has presided over an organization that has institutionalized violence, even as he continues to claim to be a “partner for peace.”
The PA’s Terrorist Payments – ‘Pay-to-Slay’
Perhaps the most infamous policy of Abbas' PA is its “pay-to-slay” program, where terrorists, including those who have murdered Israeli civilians, are rewarded with monthly salaries by the PA. This system not only incentivizes terrorism but also glorifies the killing of innocents. The PA spends millions of dollars every year paying terrorists and their families. In 2020 alone, the PA allocated approximately $350 million for payments to imprisoned terrorists and their families.
The payments are based on the severity of the crime, with larger amounts given to those who commit more violent acts, such as killing Israelis, which further incentivizes larger attacks for higher compensation. After serving their sentences, the PA guarantees former prisoners jobs within PA-run institutions, ensuring continued financial support. Among those receiving these payments are terrorists involved in attacks like the October 7th massacre.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas share a common agenda, despite their tactical differences and the PA’s international legitimacy, both seek the destruction of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state that denies Israel's right to exist. Abbas's desperate attempts to assert control over Gaza and present himself as the legitimate leader of all Palestinians must be seen as a failure, particularly as he loses control of Judea and Samaria. The rise of militant groups and deepening divisions within the West Bank should isolate Abbas from his people, highlighting the PA’s inability to provide a viable alternative to Hamas.
The international community's persistent push to "revitalize" the PA—despite its clear record of supporting terrorism—can only be seen as either naive or complicit in furthering the agenda of those seeking Israel's destruction. Without a true partner for peace, there can be no future for peace in the region. Until then, a peaceful resolution remains a distant dream.
If you can call “organized theft “ a reign, yeah sure… why not ?