Gideon Sa'ar: Palestinian Authority still funding terrorists

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar met today (Monday) with European Parliamentary President Roberta Metsola during a visit to Brussels, with whom he discussed key issues related to Israel's relationship with the EU.

Foreign Minister Sa'ar thanked the Parliament President for her clear support of Israel after October 7th, during Israel's difficult time.

The meeting focused on improving relations between Israel and the European Union. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told the Parliament President that he looks forward to constructive relations between Israel and the Union.

During the meeting, Sa'ar said that: "The Palestinian Authority continues to pay money to terrorists and their families. Abu Mazen said he would continue to pay them money even if it was the last money he had left. The Palestinians must stop the incitement against Israel in their education system. The European Union must ensure that its support funds are not used for these purposes."

Sa'ar has been visiting multiple European countries ever since he became Foreign Minister, with the aim of improving ties with European governments on issues including terrorism, the release of the hostages, and the issue of the ICC arrest warrant currently out for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

One message which Sa'ar has repeatedly stressed is how much Israel does not trust the current Syrian government, which formed following the toppling of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. Sa'ar has noted that while the Syrian government has tried to speak in moderate terms, its leaders are all former Jihadists, not moderates of minority members.

The Israeli government as a whole is also taking a hard line, with both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stating that all of southern Syria, which borders Israel, must become a demilitarized zone where official Syrian forces may not enter and whose Druze minority must be protected.