U.S. House committee unanimously passes Taylor Force Act

"The US House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday unanimously passed the Taylor Force Act, legislation that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority unless it discontinues its practice of paying monthly stipends to the families of terrorists who kill Israelis.

The legislation includes three exceptions, allowing for US funding to Palestinian water and childhood vaccination programs and to East Jerusalem hospitals.

In the same session, US lawmakers also passed two other bills designed to confront Palestinian terrorism.

The Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act, which cleared the panel with broad bipartisan support, would sanction foreign governments, entities, and individuals for providing financial and material support to the terrorist group Hamas, while the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act would also impose sanctions on foreign governments and entities that support Palestinian terrorism.

All three measures are now set to advance to the full chamber for a vote from every member of the legislative body.

'Since 2003, it has been Palestinian law to reward Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails with a monthly paycheck,' the House foreign affairs panel chairman Ed Royce said in a statement. 'Palestinian leadership also pays the families of Palestinian prisoners and suicide bombers. These policies incentivize terrorism.'

The Republican lawmaker from California added: 'With this legislation, we are forcing the PA to choose between US assistance and these morally reprehensible policies.'..."