Congress reintroduces bill to defund PA over incitement to terror

US lawmakers are pushing for the Taylor Force Act, which would require verification that the PA has ended its policy of granting monetary rewards to terrorists and their surviving family members.

A group of lawmakers on Tuesday reintroduced legislation that calls for the cutting of all US funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA) until it ceases giving monetary rewards to terrorists.

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Roy Blunt (R-MI) and Tom Cotton (R-AK), along with Congressmen Doug Lamborn (R-CL) and Lee Zeldin (R-NY), reintroduced The Taylor Force Act, named after a former US Army officer who was brutally stabbed and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist while visiting Israel.

The Taylor Force Act was also co-sponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Boozman (R-AK), Ted Cruz (R-), Richard Burr (R-NC) and John Thune (R-SD).

PA head Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction praised the terrorist as a “heroic martyr,” and the PA has yet to condemn the terrorist attack.

The US lawmakers were joined at a press conference on Tuesday by Stuart and Robbi Force, Taylor’s parents. Also present were members of OneFamily, an organization which brings together survivors who have lost family members to terrorist attacks and provides support and services for these individuals.

“This legislation shines a light on a very real problem,” stated Graham. “Why is the Palestinian Authority paying young Palestinians to commit acts of terror against innocent Americans like Taylor Force or Israelis? The Palestinians need to decide – do they condemn these horrible acts or do they reward them? You can’t be a partner in peace when you are paying people to commit terrorist acts. The choice the Palestinians make will determine the type of relationship they have with the United States in the years to come.”

“We cannot continue allowing US taxpayer dollars to be used by the Palestinian Authority to reward convicted terrorists and their families for acts of violence against Israel or the United States,” said Blunt. “Under current Palestinian Authority law, the more heinous an act of terror an individual commits, the greater the reward. This is an outrageous policy and I urge my Senate colleagues to support this effort to end the Palestinian Authority’s unconscionable law.”

‘Reprehensible and Senseless Acts of Terror’

“The family of Taylor Force experienced loss no loved one should ever have to endure. These reprehensible and senseless acts of terror have no room in our modern world and we should seek all available resources to stop the evil that has claimed too many innocent lives. I stand by Senator Graham’s efforts, and look forward to continuing to explore all options to stamp out terrorism,” Scott stated.

“Taylor Force was what every parent hopes their son will be. And this legislation will honor his memory by making sure no taxpayer money rewards the kinds of terrorists who took this young man’s life,” said Cotton.

“It’s unacceptable that our taxpayer dollars are still being used by the Palestinian Authority to pay terrorists who have Israeli and American blood on their hands, and to brainwash young Palestinians to hate Israel and the Jewish people. The US should condition assistance to the Palestinian Authority on it stopping these despicable practices,” Rubio declared.

“This bill delivers a message that should be heard loud and clear: The United States must not fund a Palestinian leadership that engages in incitement and supports acts of terrorism against both American and Israeli citizens,” Cruz said. “I’m proud to work with Senator Graham and my colleagues on this legislation, named in honor of Taylor Force, a Texas native and Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who served multiple tours in defense of our country before being murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in Tel Aviv last year. The US must hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for continuing this heinous practice of incentivizing and rewarding terrorism by providing monthly salaries and benefits to terrorists, their families, and the families of those who died committing acts of terrorism. We must ensure US taxpayer dollars are not being used to fund and enable Palestinian terrorism and stand with Israel against radical Islamic terrorism that targets citizens from both of our countries.”

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

IncitementPalestinian terrorTaylor Force