When a mass murderer spoke from prison with someone present at a gathering in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem, he did not expect the involvement of Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) or the quick response of the Israeli Prison Service (IPS).

As part of the event, one of those present stopped the singing and called out:

“Brothers! If you please, our brother Majdi Za’atri from Wadi Joz [in Jerusalem], who was sentenced to 23 life sentences, is with us by phone from the prison. He blesses your resolution!”

[Official PA TV, Palestine This Morning, May 6, 2021]

Immediately after receiving the broadcast, PMW passed it on to the IPS while emphasizing the fact that Za’atri is a mass murderer and Hamas member, and apparently is in possession of a cell phone in his prison cell.

Following PMW’s report, IPS updated that Za’atri was severely punished for this, and additional actions were taken to prevent potential harm to Israel’s security.

Za’atri, who was a resident of Jerusalem, was sentenced to 23 life sentences for his part in the bombing of a bus in Jerusalem on Aug. 19, 2003, in which 23 people were murdered and another 130 were wounded.

The monthly salary that the PA pays Za’atri currently stands at 7,300 Israeli shekels (over $2,162) a month, including a special addition of 300 shekels (over $93) a month that the PA pays terrorists who are residents of Jerusalem like Za’atri. As of the end of July 2021, the PA has already paid Za’atri no less than 888,100 shekels (over $ 276,596) as a reward for murdering 23 people. The PA has paid a similar amount to his two accomplices.