US Senate unveils revised version of Taylor Force Act

"The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee unveiled on Tuesday an updated version of a bill that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority over salaries paid to terrorists and their families.

The new text of the Taylor Force Act incorporates some of the advice given to the panel during a hearing last month, but does not include a waiver that would allow the US president to disregard the law on national security grounds.

It does, however, allow for continued funding toward humanitarian programs that 'directly benefit the Palestinian Authority' and it exempts the East Jerusalem Hospital Network from being stripped of American financial support.

Other provisions call on 'all donor countries' to 'cease direct budgetary support until the Palestinian Authority stops all payments incentivizing terror' and requires the PA to revoke any laws that result in terrorists being compensated.

Furthermore, the State Department would be mandated to put out an annual, declassified report detailing the PA's practices regarding cash payments that reward terrorism.

The latest version of the bill will be reviewed by the committee on Thursday during its business meeting. That session will provide US lawmakers the opportunity to offer amendments and additional revisions before they ultimately vote on whether to send the legislation to the entire chamber.

The bill, which is named after a former US army officer who was stabbed to death by a Palestinian assailant while visiting Tel Aviv in March 2016, was introduced by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) in February..."