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Congress moves bill cutting Palestinian aid over ‘martyr’ stipends

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 17-4 for the Taylor Force Act after modifications were made to get Democrats on board.
Zaka emergency personnel clean a bloodstain from the ground at the scene of a Palestinian stabbing attack in Tel Aviv, Israel November 19, 2015. REUTERS/Nir Elias - RTS7YAW
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A bill that would cut off US economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) over so-called "martyr payments" is finally gaining traction after initial ambivalence from pro-Israel groups, the Donald Trump administration and congressional Democrats.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the latest version of the Taylor Force Act today by a vote of 17-4, with four Democrats voting against it. The bill would require the United States to end most nonsecurity assistance to the Palestinians unless the PA stops paying stipends to convicted terrorists and their families, a practice that Israel dubs “pay to slay.”

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