Amid Israel’s crackdown on pay-for-slay, PA Finance Minister Estephan Salameh vowed to maintain 60% public salaries while keeping full payments to terrorists, calling it a core national duty.
PA Finance Minister about terrorists’ Pay-for-Slay: “We haven’t abandoned any Palestinian, whether prisoners, Martyrs, or wounded”
Press conference host: “We [the PA] are in a deep financial crisis resulting from the occupation's (i.e., Israel’s) decision to continue withholding tax revenue funds for nine months (i.e., Israel’s Anti “Pay-for-Slay” Law to deduct terror salaries). These tax funds constitute about 68% of the income of the State of Palestine.” PA Minister of Finance Estephan Salameh: “We are going to pay part of the salaries, at a rate of 60% and a minimum of 2,000 [Israeli] shekels (just under $650 -Ed.) – next Monday, [Feb. 16, 2026], before the start of the [Muslim fasting] month of Ramadan… With effort and great, almost impossible difficulty, we continue to provide this [60%] rate of [PA public employee] salaries.
We have not abandoned any Palestinian resident, whether they are prisoners or families of Martyrs and wounded (i.e., terrorists). This is a clear fundamental national issue. There are various demands for us to make reductions, ...[but] despite the financial distress, we are still fulfilling all our commitments to the Palestinian citizens, every one of them. We are not reducing or forgoing any salary.”
[Wattan (independent Palestinian news agency), YouTube channel, Feb. 12, 2026]
