A Palestinian terrorist who murdered a 31-year-old Israeli man near Jerusalem last week has been designated as a “martyr” by the Palestinian Authority, suggesting that his family will be financially rewarded for the attack.
Muhammad Tareq Dar Yusuf, 17, killed Yotam Ovadia — a father of two young children — after sneaking into the community of Adam in so-called West Bank on Thursday evening. A 58-year-old man was also seriously wounded during the incident, as was a third victim who sustained light injuries before fatally shooting Yusuf.
The following day, an article in the official PA newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida claimed Yusuf “died as a Martyr,” the Israeli research and advocacy group Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reported. The same description was used in a Facebook post published that day by the Bethlehem branch of Fatah, the party of PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
Under PA policy, the families of Palestinians who die as “martyrs” — a designation largely given to those killed while attacking Israeli targets — are entitled to a one-time payment of 6,000 shekels (about $1,600), as well as monthly salaries starting at 1,400 shekels (about $380), according to PMW. The monthly allowance increases based on several variables, including the number of wives and children a “martyr” had, as well as whether he was a resident of Jerusalem and/or Israel.
The PA also pays salaries to Palestinians who are incarcerated in Israel, with the monthly allowances — which range from 1,400 shekels (about $380) for sentences under three years, to 12,000 shekels (about $3,300) for sentences over 30 years — affording the greatest financial reward to those convicted of the most severe crimes.
