The Palestinian Authority has "no responsible role" in becoming part of Gaza's future governance unless it completely abandons its "pay to slay" program that benefits terrorists, Rabbi Steven Burg, the CEO of Aish Global, said on Newsmax Sunday.
"Oct. 7 was absolutely horrendous, the scale, the scope, all those different pieces, but the terror continues," Berg said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend."
Terrorists know if they're killed while committing an attack, "their family will be taken care of by the Palestinian Authority," he added.
But the Biden administration has "gone back to funding the PA, and that money is flowing back to terrorist families, so you're going to see continued terrorism," said Burg.
The Biden administration on Election Day waived terrorism sanctions on the Palestinian government, even while acknowledging that it was not complying with agreements to end the pay-to-slay program and curb acts of terrorism against Israel, reports The Washington Free Beacon.
The waiver was set to extend for 180 days and come up for renewal after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
But Burg pointed out that the Taylor Force Act, passed by the House in 2017, prohibited economic support for the Palestinian Authority unless it takes steps to end acts of violence against U.S. and Israeli citizens, such as the March 2016 attack that killed Force, a U.S. Army officer.
But with the money continuing to flow to the Palestinian Authority, "you're going to see continued terrorism and it has to stop," Burg said.
He acknowledged that the Palestinians have spoken out against Hamas, but he said that he thinks "they are doing certain things to kind of show."
"I don't think it's really for Israel," said Burg. "I don't think it's in defense of Israelis. I think it's about their own power. The PA, as most people know, is incredibly corrupt … the last time there was an election was probably almost 20 years ago. It's a bit of a dictatorship, and what they're doing is protecting themselves."
And as terrorists are still being paid off, said Burg, "no one in Israel really understands how they could be a partner going forward."
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week a deal is near with Hamas to release hostages seized in Israel, but President Joe Biden said Hamas is all that is left in the way.
"In Israel, people are so incredibly disappointed with Secretary Blinken," said Berg. "Every time they criticize Israel, Hamas would go further from the negotiating table and people are shaking their heads. Of course, you know, they're terrorists. Look, every single day we're praying. We're trying to do everything we can to get those hostages back."
Trump, meanwhile, has "said the right things and that he is not going to hold anything back," said Burg.
"We're very, very hopeful something could happen and hopefully they'll be home soon," he added. "That's that's the way to get to peace. If they send the hostages home, then the Israelis are going to leave Gaza and then try to figure out what to do for the future."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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