Long Overdue Accountability

In a landmark and unanimous ruling on 20 June 2025, the United States Supreme Court granted American victims of Palestinian terrorism—and their families—the right to sue the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in U.S. courts. This precedent-setting decision marks a long-overdue turning point in the pursuit of justice and accountability after decades of impunity and moral evasion.

At the centre of the case lies the Palestinian Authority’s grotesque “Pay-for-Slay” program—a policy that provides monthly stipends to convicted terrorists and the families of deceased attackers. This is no fringe phenomenon. It is institutionalised, enshrined in Palestinian law, and publicly defended by PA leaders. While the PA claims these payments are a form of social support, they are widely viewed as incentives for violence. And for far too long, the broader Palestinian aid system has been underwritten—albeit indirectly—by Western donor nations, including at times Australia.

The Business of Murder

The Pay-for-Slay scheme allocates payments far exceeding average wages in the West Bank. For example:

– A terrorist sentenced to over 30 years in an Israeli prison receives approximately US$3,500 per month, more than four times the average local salary.
– In 2023, Israel’s Ministry of Defence reported that over US$300 million was earmarked by the PA for prisoner and “martyr” payments—roughly 7% of its annual budget.