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At AIPAC, Presidential Hopefuls Highlight Palestinians Rewarding of Terror

The theme at AIPAC’s annual policy conference was ‘Come Together.’ But aside from affirming their commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel alliance, the U.S. presidential candidates addressing the 18,000 gathered at the Verizon Center on Monday – in a bipartisan manner – condemned the Palestinian Authority for rejecting Israel’s reached out hand for peace and incitement against the Jewish people, but also highlighting the fact that they have been rewarding the families of terrorists with a monthly pay.

First was Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who stated unequivocally: “Palestinian leaders need to stop inciting violence, stop celebrating terrorists as martyrs and stop paying rewards to their families.”

Republican presidential candidate John Kasich, addressing the conference in the evening session, pointed to the “culture of death” that the Palestinian Authority and its forebears have promoted for over 50 years. “Indoctrination of hate has long been part of a planned and well thought out strategy,” the Ohio Governor said. “Palestinian children are raised in a culture that glorifies martyrdom, and the willingness to die in the pursuit of killing or maiming Israelis; Children’s textbooks have been filled with vile anti-Semitism; Families of suicide killers receive an annuity after they kill and maim; and Imprisoned terrorists receive stipends and are guaranteed jobs in the Palestinian civil service at a salary determined by the length of their sentence.”

“If they truly want peace with Israel, then Palestinians cannot continue to promote a culture of hatred and death,” said Kasich.

Donald Trump, shifting from a proposed “neutral” approach to the conflict to a full-fledged adoption of Israel’s side, said there’s no moral equivalency when it comes to expressing a willingness to negotiate a peace deal. “Israel does not name public squares after terrorists. Israel does not pay its children to stab random Palestinians,” said Trump.

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