Washington to halt economic aid to Palestinian Authority

A bill was passed into law on Friday, effectively halting economic aid to the Palestinian Authority until its leadership stops all payments to Palestinians and their families that have committed acts of terror. The legislation, known as the Taylor Force Act, was named after a 29-year-old American military veteran, who was fatally stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist, while visiting Israel in 2016. The new law is intended to stop the Palestinians from paying stipends, which can amount up to 3,500 dollars a month, to the families of terrorists killed or Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails for committing acts of terror.

It is important to note that the family of Taylor Force’s attacker, who was killed during the act of terror by Israeli Police, receives a monthly payment from the Palestinian Authority.

Former Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs, Ashraf al-Ajrami, explained that “This is a very sensitive issue, as the prisoners are considered (among Palestinians) as freedom fighters. The Palestinian people believe there is a right to resist the occupation and thus reject the label of terrorist.” Al-Ajrami also notes that there are “extremist entities—like Hamas and Iran—that would fill the void if the Palestinian Authority stops paying the salaries, and this is not even in the interest of Israel.”