Posted on 09/14/2017 10:22:14 PM PDT by Olog-hai
The Trump administration declared its firm support Thursday for a bill that would suspend U.S. financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority until it ends what critics have described as a long-standing practice of rewarding Palestinians who kill Americans and Israelis.
The State Department announcement comes nearly six weeks after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee backed the measure. The legislation, which is named after an American who was stabbed to death in Israel by a Palestinian, reflects bipartisan outrage over what lawmakers have termed a “pay to slay” program endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.
“The Trump administration strongly supports the Taylor Force Act, which is a consequence of Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization’s policy of paying terrorists and their families,” the State Department said.
The department added that President Donald Trump “raised the need to end any part of this program that incentivizes violence against Israeli and American citizens with President Mahmoud Abbas last May in both Washington and Bethlehem.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
I am tempted to give Trump kudos for this, but he is now public enemy number one on this forum.
What an amazing 24 hours of watching people trash the only guy we have, whether we get everything we want or not.
I still have yet to hear one person anyone thinks would have been better for the nation.
Yes, think how much better things would have been under President Hillary!!!
Only one year out of eight. Things can turn around. Possibly the next move could be, as Levin suggested, “take over (his) party” as Reagan did (already precedent for that).
“:^)
Trump has done many things good over the last 7.9 months.
Folks forget that. Sad but true...
Man some folks have really lost perspective.
I give him kudos for this. It’s long over due. He is doing the best he can with what he has. I love the guy. Always remember that on the internet the bitchers, complainers, moaners and whiners are always the loudest and most obnoxious. It’s the very nature of being anonymous and not talking face to face.
I agree with you, but there are good people here who have lost all perspective over the last 24 hours. It’s a shame really.
They think you’re defending the defenseless, but there’s more at stake for our nation than DACA, whether I detest what it looks like what they are going to do our not.
This is very destructive to our own cause.
I don’t have to agree with the president about everything, to know he’s all we’ve got and is our only hope.
Nobody else is going to drive our agenda! NOBODY!
Bunch of wrist slitters.
In a sense, that’s more or less what it is.
I’m so thankful that life prevented me from being on here today, I’ve had all I can stomach from the chorus of nay sayers. I’m sure you put in a lot of time and effort to inject a measure of sanity today, you’re one of the best at doing so.
I will never believe our destorted agenda driven media nor will I listen to or believe pelosi or schumer. I tried to listen to levin tonight but he’s back to his favorite comfort zone of being a loud and gutless never Trumper.
When it comes to DACA, I am not in favor of giving these folks a free pass. The law is the law, and Obama had no business whatsoever giving these people DACA.
Clinton, Bush, and Obama kicked this problem down the road too. Of course not DACA, but all matters illegal alien invaders they did. Some of them were included in DACA. Bush who let another 10-15 million people come in on his watch, has adults tied around his neck who are covered under DACA.
Illegal aliens are just that. They are here illegally, and they are foreign citizens.
If we allow them to come in and stay, it will only encourage others to do so. What better way to demonstrate those days are over, than to enforce our laws?
As for Trump's actions, I can disagree with them, focusing on the topic and avoiding damaging him. I don't agree with what it looks like he "MAY" wind up doing. I still need the man to get many other things done.
I've been addressing the problem of illegal aliens for decades. I'm not changing my tune now.
I still cannot and will not attack the only person who gives us at least a chance to get things we must have done, done.
Yes, I've been trashing DACA, the potential disaster, and those who have determined it's time to destroy Trump here.
Some folks haven't got the grasp of political dynamics God gave fruit bats. So yes, it gets dicey at times.
On the subject of DACA:
People can go back up the line from this post or go to the top of the thread and follow this argument down.
I will not defend giving people any kind of relief from the laws of our nation, and I cannot defend DACA on any level since it was an unConstitutional act from the get go.
I’m not trashing him over something he hasn’t done yet, but doesn’t he have the authority to end the aid now?
Yes, and its a pity something so right and simple has not been done yet.
Congress has to help Trump thump the Pallies?
The Pallies thumbed their nose at the USA and we stil give them hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
This is long overdue. Why do we subsidize barbarians in the first place? Cut off all $ to palis.
I hope the President can pressure our allies to cut off funding as well. The only peace they want is a piece here, a piece there, etc.... until Israel is gone.
Good, and stop all “aid” to muzzy countries.
To condition assistance to the West Bank and Gaza on steps by the Palestinian Authority to end violence and terrorism against Israeli citizens and United States Citizens.
This Act may be cited as the “Taylor Force Act”.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Palestinian Authority’s practice of paying salaries to terrorists serving in Israeli prisons, as well as to the families of deceased terrorists, is an incentive to commit acts of terror.
(2) The United States does not provide direct budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority. The United States does pay certain debts held by the Palestinian Authority and fund programs which the Palestinian Authority would otherwise be responsible for.
(3) The United States Government supports community-based programs in the West Bank and Gaza that provide for basic human needs, such as food, water, health, shelter, protection, education and livelihoods, and that promote peace and development.
(4) Since fiscal year 2015, annual appropriations legislation has provided for the reduction of Economic Support Fund aid for the Palestinian Authority “by an amount the Secretary determines is equivalent to the amount expended by the Palestinian Authority as payments for acts of terrorism by individuals who are imprisoned after being fairly tried and convicted for acts of terrorism and by individuals who died committing acts of terrorism during the previous calendar year”.
Congress—
(1) calls on the Palestinian Authority to stop these payments and repeal the laws authorizing them;
(2) calls on all donor countries providing budgetary assistance to the Palestinian Authority to cease direct budgetary support until the Palestinian Authority stops all payments incentivizing terror;
(3) supports the creation of a general welfare system, available to all Palestinian citizens within the jurisdictional control of the Palestinian Authority;
(4) urges the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use that position to highlight the issue of Palestinian Authority payments for acts of terrorism and to urge other member nations of the Security Council and the General Assembly to join the United States in calling on the Palestinian Authority to end this system immediately; and
(5) urges the Department of State to use its bilateral and multilateral engagements with all governments and organizations committed to the cause of peace to highlight the issue of Palestinian Authority payments for acts of terrorism and join the United States in calling on the Palestinian Authority to end this system immediately.
SEC. 4. Limitation on assistance to the West Bank and Gaza.
(a) In general.—Funds appropriated or otherwise made available for assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.; relating to Economic Support Fund) and available for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza that directly benefit the Palestinian Authority may only be made available for such purpose if the Secretary of State certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional committees that the Palestinian Authority—
(1) is taking credible steps to end acts of violence against Israeli citizens and United States citizens that are perpetrated by individuals under its jurisdictional control, such as the March 2016 attack that killed former United States Army officer Taylor Force, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan;
(2) has terminated payments for acts of terrorism against Israeli citizens and United States citizens to any individual, after being fairly tried, who has been imprisoned for such acts of terrorism and to any individual who died committing such acts of terrorism, including to a family member of such individuals; and;
(3) has revoked any law, decree, regulation, or document authorizing or implementing a system of compensation for imprisoned individuals that uses the sentence or period of incarceration of an individual to determine the level of compensation paid.; and
(4) is publicly condemning such acts of violence and is taking steps to investigate or is cooperating in investigations of such acts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
(b) Exception.—The limitation on assistance under subsection (a) shall not apply to payments made to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network.
(c) Rule of construction.—Amounts withheld pursuant to this section shall be deemed to satisfy any similar withholding or reduction required under any other provision of law.
SEC. 5. Continuous certification.
Funds appropriated or otherwise made available for assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.; relating to Economic Support Fund) and available for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza may only be made available for such purpose if, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional committees that the Palestinian Authority is taking credible and verifiable steps to end acts of violence against Israeli citizens and United States citizens that are perpetrated by individuals under its jurisdictional control.
SEC. 6. Palestinian Authority Accountability Fund.
(a) Establishment of Fund.—There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the “Palestinian Authority Accountability Fund” (PAAF). The PAAF shall consist of funds withheld under sections 4 and 5.
(b) Investments.—The Secretary of State shall invest funds in the PAAF in an interest-bearing obligation of the United States Government, or an obligation that has its principal and interest guaranteed by the Government, that the Secretary determines has a maturity suitable for the Fund.
(c) Use of funds.—Funds from the PAAF may be made available upon a certification by the Secretary of State that the Palestinian Authority has met the conditions set forth in section 4(a).
(d) Disposition of unused funds.—On the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, all funds that are in the PAAF shall be withdrawn and made available to the Department of State for the purpose of assistance other than that deemed benefitting the Palestinian Authority.
(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report including at a minimum the following elements:
(1) An estimate of the amount expended by the Palestinian Authority during the previous calendar year as payments for acts of terrorism by individuals who are imprisoned for such acts.
(2) An estimate of the amount expended by the Palestinian Authority during the previous calendar year as payments to the families of deceased individuals who committed an act of terrorism.
(3) An overview of Palestinian laws, decrees, regulations, or documents in effect the previous calendar year that authorize or implement any payments reported under paragraphs (1) and (2).
(4) A description of United States Government policy, efforts, and engagement with the Palestinian Authority in order to confirm the revocation of any law, decree, regulation, or document in effect the previous calendar year that authorizes or implements any payments reported under paragraphs (1) and (2).
(5) A description of United States Government policy, efforts, and engagement with other governments, and at the United Nations, to highlight the issue of Palestinian payments for acts of terrorism and to urge other nations to join the United States in calling on the Palestinian Authority to end this system immediately.
(b) Form of report.—The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
SEC. 78. Appropriate congressional committees defined.
In this Act, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
(1) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
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