JERUSALEM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the Palestinian National Authority should prove they want peace by stop funding Palestinian prisoners convicted of assaulting Israelis.
"The Palestinian Authority should stop funding terrorists who are in prison and stop funding families of terrorists killed during the course of their crimes," he told the weekly cabinet meeting.
"It is impossible to be in favor of peace with Israel, and at the same time to glorify and finance murderers of Israelis," he added.
Netanyahu said the financial assistance to prisoners "is a simple and sharp test of the Palestinians' desire for peace."
The PNA extends financial help to many Palestinians in Israeli jail, including to prisoners convicted of involvement in attacks against Israelis.
Netanyahu's remark was made ahead of the trip of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Washington. Abbas is scheduled to meet United States President Donald Trump in the White House on May 3.
A White House announcement said the two leaders will discuss ways to revive the stalled peace process, which reached an impasse in April 2014.
