Ramallah- The Palestinian Authority lashed out on Monday at Israel and blamed Tel Aviv for paying a monthly salary for Jewish prisoners, who are accused of killing Palestinians.

Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs said the Israeli occupation government was paying a high monthly salary, sometimes reaching $3000, for prisoners and Israeli criminals who had committed massacres and murders against Palestinian civilians.

He also accused the Palestinian authorities of providing those criminals and their families with social care, legal follow-up and any other requirements.

As an example, Qaraqe said a monthly salary has been allowed to the Israeli criminal Ami Popper, who is a mass murderer convicted for the killing of seven Palestinian workers in Rishon Lezion near Tel Aviv on May 20, 1990, while they were waiting at a bus stop for their Israeli employers to arrive.

“He (Popper) was wearing the military uniform when he opened fire and executed them,” Qaraqe said.

He added that Popper was first condemned to life imprisonment, but later received a reduced sentence and will be released next month.

According to Qaraqe, Popper receives a salary of 11,000 shekel, he was allowed to marry, had children while inside the prison and was even permitted to visit his family on several occasions.

“This Israeli government is supporting Jewish terrorists and their extremist organizations at the financial, social and legal levels,” he said.

Qaraqe’s statements came as a response to the US-Israeli attack on the Palestinian Authority for paying salaries for Palestinian hostages.

The Israeli government had launched a wide-range campaign accusing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of “financing terrorism” in an act that contradicts his comments about peace.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu had also criticized Abbas on several occasions and said the Palestinian President was working on the principle of: “The more you kill, the more you get.”