The Palestinian Authority (PA) marked "Prisoners Day" on April 17thby holding rallies throughout the West Bank in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. It is not the only organization to do so. The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem Canada expresses its deep disappointment in a statement by the World Council of Churches which also expressed its solidarity with Palestinian prisoners “languishing in Jail”. Churches in the Holy Land were invited to “remember Palestinian prisoners through prayers and acts of solidarity that restore to them their freedom with justice and dignity”.

While the WCC statement references the Christian ethic of remembering all prisoners in a Christian spirit of kindness, the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem Canada recognizes the need and right of the state of Israel to protect its citizens from terrorism. We also stand in empathy for the victims of these terrorists and with their families who have suffered untold grief at the loss of their loved ones. In pointing out some facts:

The PA actively encourages violence against Jews as heroic and necessary politically, while religiously, it is portrayed as Allah’s will.

Releasing Palestinian prisoners will not benefit the peace process as it is in the PA Charter to destroy Israel. Just before the turn of the new year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned PA leader Mahmoud Abbas for referring to Palestinian terrorists in Israeli jails as "heroes." Netanyahu stated that "murderers are not heroes" and added that, "peace can be achieved only when the education toward incitement and toward the destruction of Israel is stopped." Abbas has declared that there is no way he will ever recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

Palestinian prisoners -­‐-­‐imprisoned in Israel for security and terror-­‐related offenses specifically-­‐-­‐are being paid a monthly salary from the PA . The salary comes from the official Palestinian budget which in part comes from the donations of Western countries like Canada, the U.S. and Europe. The budget for prisoners is reported to be 5 million dollars per month . In addition, Palestinian prisoners who were convicted of killing Israelis and then released as a good will gesture by Israel were given at least $50,000 each by the PA; and a “comfortable” monthly salary. The PA even sponsors a summer camp for children named after terrorists. Meanwhile, reports of torture of Palestinian prisoners by its own Palestinian security services “keep rolling in” according to the deputy Middle East Director at Human Rights Watch.

It is also perplexing what the WCC means by its call for "acts of solidarity".