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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tim Scott (R-SC), John Boozman (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Richard Burr (R-NC) and John Thune (R-SD) in reintroducing the Taylor Force Act, legislation which would cut off U.S. funding to the Palestinian Authority as long as it rewards terrorists and their surviving family members. U.S. Representatives Doug Lamborn (R-CO) and Lee Zeldin (R-NY) reintroduced the companion bill in the House.
Taylor Force was a former U.S. Army officer who was part of a Vanderbilt University tour group visiting Israel when he was brutally stabbed and killed by a Palestinian terrorist. Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction praised the terrorist as a “heroic martyr” and the Palestinian Authority did not condemn the attack.
“It’s unacceptable that our taxpayer dollars are still being used by the Palestinian Authority to pay terrorists who have Israeli and American blood on their hands, and to brainwash young Palestinians to hate Israel and the Jewish people. The U.S. should condition assistance to the Palestinian Authority on it stopping these despicable practices,” said Rubio.
“This legislation shines a light on a very real problem,” said Graham. “Why is the Palestinian Authority paying young Palestinians to commit acts of terror against innocent Americans like Taylor Force or Israelis? The Palestinians need to decide – do they condemn these horrible acts or do they reward them? You can’t be a partner in peace when you are paying people to commit terrorist acts. The choice the Palestinians make will determine the type of relationship they have with the United States in the years to come.”
“We cannot continue allowing U.S. taxpayer dollars to be used by the Palestinian Authority to reward convicted terrorists and their families for acts of violence against Israel or the United States,” said Blunt. “Under current Palestinian Authority law, the more heinous an act of terror an individual commits, the greater the reward. This is an outrageous policy and I urge my Senate colleagues to support this effort to end the Palestinian Authority’s unconscionable law.”
“The family of Taylor Force experienced loss no loved one should ever have to endure. These reprehensible and senseless acts of terror have no room in our modern world and we should seek all available resources to stop the evil that has claimed too many innocent lives. I stand by Sen. Graham’s efforts, and look forward to continuing to explore all options to stamp out terrorism,” said Scott.
“Taylor Force was what every parent hopes their son will be. And this legislation will honor his memory by making sure no taxpayer money rewards the kinds of terrorists who took this young man’s life,” said Cotton.
“The Palestinian Authority must be held accountable for rewarding and encouraging terrorism. We must prevent American tax dollars from being used to support government sponsored terror,” said Boozman.
“This bill delivers a message that should be heard loud and clear: The United States must not fund a Palestinian leadership that engages in incitement and supports acts of terrorism against both American and Israeli citizens,” said Cruz. “I’m proud to work with Sen. Graham and my colleagues on this legislation, named in honor of Taylor Force, a Texas native and Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who served multiple tours in defense of our country before being murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in Tel Aviv last year. The US must hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for continuing this heinous practice of incentivizing and rewarding terrorism by providing monthly salaries and benefits to terrorists, their families, and the families of those who died committing acts of terrorism. We must ensure US taxpayer dollars are not being used to fund and enable Palestinian terrorism and stand with Israel against radical Islamic terrorism that targets citizens from both of our countries.”