The Daily Caller News Foundation reported that a lawsuit was filed Tuesday against the Biden administration as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It claimed that the administration sent half a million dollars of taxpayer money to the Palestinian Authority despite knowing that the PA was funding policies that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israeli and American citizens.
America First Legal Foundation filed the lawsuit. It argued that the Biden administration had sent large amounts of money to the Palestinian Authority. This government has been known for supporting terrorists who have committed acts of violence against Israelis through the PA Martyrs Fund. This program, also known as “Pay to Slay”, is responsible for hundreds of deaths in the U.S. and Israel.
Taylor Force, a 28 year-old U.S. Army Veteran, was killed by Palestinian terrorists during a trip to Israel for a graduate program. The Taylor Force Act, which was passed by Congress and former President Donald Trump in 2017 to stop U.S. taxpayer money from being sent to the PA until it ends its “Pay to Slay” policy, was enacted to address the atrocity.
According to the lawsuit, the Biden administration continued to send money despite the legislation. Biden announced in May 2020 that he would restore funding for the PA. The following year, he signed off on $360 million to PA.
According to a Palestinian official in the same year, $181 million was sent by the PA to terrorists who had committed acts against Israel.
According to the lawsuit, the administration acknowledged that it knew that the PA was still following the policy a few months prior to distributing the funds. The complaint claims that a second private report was submitted to Congress in May 2022. It revealed that the Biden administration knew that the PA had continued its deadly policy. They had also sent $341 million more to terrorists and their families.
The complaint stated that the defendants came to power on January 20, 2021 with a new plan to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars from the U.S. taxpayers to Palestinian Authority. This was despite Pay to Slay, and against the Taylor Force Act. They have transferred almost half a million dollars from the United States to directly benefit and support the Palestinian Authority, contrary to law.
Stuart Force, Taylor Force’s dad, stated to the DCNF that he and his family hope to hold the administration responsible.
Force stated that his role in the lawsuit was the same as in the original Taylor Force Act. Force explained to the outlet that Force wanted to put a human face to the terrible effects of the Palestinian Authority’s Pay for Slay policies. Multiply the tragic loss of Taylor and the many Israeli families who have been affected by Pay for Slay, and you’ll see why we are determined to stop the flow of US money to the PA.
Force said, “If [Biden] and Blinken understood why Israel’s enemies are motivated, the elimination of Israel’s State of Israel,” Force added. “The money is used to foment hatred and violence against Israel and the United States, in addition to increased rocket barrages and tunnel construction and increased attacks on innocent civilians when foreign aid increases.”
DCNF was informed by a spokesperson for the State Department that they do not comment on any pending litigation.
DCNF reported that the White House didn’t respond to a request for comment.
