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.
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.”
Before today’s vote, the bill was an exclusively Republican endeavor, but recent modifications have garnered some bipartisan support. Most notably, an amendment offered by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., would create an escrow fund that would temporarily set aside aid withheld to the PA until it stops the controversial payments.
Kaine’s amendment would allow the PA to still receive the assistance if the secretary of state certifies that the “martyr payments” have ceased. Funds would be held for two years, after which they could be used elsewhere if the Palestinian practice continues.
