US Ends Funding to PA Due to Terror Payments; Congress: PA Practice of "Pay to Slay" Must End

The Taylor Force Act -- legislation that seeks to cut financial aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) unless it ends its payments to terrorists and their families -- has been passed by Congress as part of a massive $1.3 trillion spending bill, the World Israel website reports today (March 24, 2018).


"I truly appreciate the hard work of the Force family and the many friends of Taylor Force who made it clear to Congress the practice of 'Pay to Slay' must be stopped," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who introduced the bill in 2016, tweeted yesterday.


The legislation is named for a 28-year-old former U.S. serviceman who was stabbed and killed in March 2016 while visiting Israel.


The Taylor Force Act -- which will end U.S. funding to the Palestinian Authority until it ends support for terrorists and their families -- does allow for three humanitarian exceptions, including funding for Palestinian water and childhood vaccination programs as well as eastern Jerusalem hospitals. The legislation also does not cut off U.S. assistance to Palestinian Authority security forces.