Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations condemned the heinous murder of 13-year-old Hallel Yaffa Ariel in Kiryat Arba. It is hard to imagine the evil, extremist incitement that drives a 19-year-old man to such a barbaric act – an innocent child asleep in her bed brutally murdered. By all accounts she was a sweet, talented, wonderful child. She was also an American citizen. This heinous attack is the result of the continuous incitement by Palestinian officials, media, schools, and imams. We, like the leaders of Israel and the United States, have repeatedly called for an end to the incitement largely led by the Palestinian Authority and its chairman, Mahmoud Abbas. This is not a precondition to negotiations, it is not a concession or gesture. It is a fundamental responsibility and the failure to act until now has taken a heavy toll on life and limb. The international community has tolerated this for too long. Chairman Abbas must be told with no exceptions, time has run out. Stop all incitement, all rewards and honors to terrorists, no more pensions for those who kill or maim, no more half-hearted statements.
Congress should pass the legislation currently before it to cut US aid to the PA by an amount equivalent to all payments to terrorists or their families for the tributes to terrorists. We note the State Department has reduced allocations to the PA for money to terrorists.
The glorification and compensation of terrorists by the PA and the drumbeat of hate-filled rhetoric by authorities encourages a climate of violence and hatred and hinders the chances to advance a peace process.
The Conference of Presidents sends its condolences to the Ariel family and prays for the wounded security guard.
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