Last year, Congress passed the Taylor Force act. It is a measure named for an American who was killed by terrorists a few years earlier. The bill barred payments to governments or entities that pay stipends, pension or give other benefits to terrorists who kill civilians. The law was finally passed and signed into law as part of the omnibus spending bill that went into effect a few months ago. As a result of this, the USA has now cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority because the PA pays pensions to terrorists in jail and to their families. If a terrorist is killed, then the PA pays a death benefit to the family.
The change in US aid is causing something of an uproar in the region. First of all, not only is the US cutting off direct payments to the PA; it has also cut off payments to UNWRA, the UN agency that provides cash to a large number of people who claim to be Palestinian refugees from the 1948-9 war that occurred when Israel became independent and all of its Arab neighbors invaded the infant state. President Trump has said that until the Palestinians return to negotiations on peace in good faith and reach an agreement, the aid will not be restored.
I have now heard a series of Democrats denouncing the cut off in aid for the PA. Some of them are members of Congress. It's bizarre. The Taylor Force Act passed the House on a voice vote. Any member could have objected and required a roll call vote. None did. That means that these congressmen and women who are now criticizing the results of the Taylor Force law either voted for it or didn't bother to make a serious attempt to oppose it. Suddenly now, they want to reward the intransigence of the Palestinian Authority which won't participate in peace talks and which vows that it will always pay stipends to terrorists who murder Americans. Why would we ever give them money?
The change in US aid is causing something of an uproar in the region. First of all, not only is the US cutting off direct payments to the PA; it has also cut off payments to UNWRA, the UN agency that provides cash to a large number of people who claim to be Palestinian refugees from the 1948-9 war that occurred when Israel became independent and all of its Arab neighbors invaded the infant state. President Trump has said that until the Palestinians return to negotiations on peace in good faith and reach an agreement, the aid will not be restored.
I have now heard a series of Democrats denouncing the cut off in aid for the PA. Some of them are members of Congress. It's bizarre. The Taylor Force Act passed the House on a voice vote. Any member could have objected and required a roll call vote. None did. That means that these congressmen and women who are now criticizing the results of the Taylor Force law either voted for it or didn't bother to make a serious attempt to oppose it. Suddenly now, they want to reward the intransigence of the Palestinian Authority which won't participate in peace talks and which vows that it will always pay stipends to terrorists who murder Americans. Why would we ever give them money?
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