The Taylor Force Act (H.R. 1164, S. 1697) conditions future U.S. economic aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the PA ending its longtime practice of paying financial rewards to terrorists who attack Americans and Israelis – as well as lifetime stipends for the terrorists’ families.

This practice of ‘pay for slay’ is codified in detail in Palestinian law. In 2017, the PA allocated $344 million – half of its annual foreign aid – for such payments.

The OU Advocacy Center has worked with legislators to build support for this legislation since Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) first introduced it in September 2016, just months after 28-year-old American graduate student and former U.S. Army Officer Taylor Force was stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist in Jaffa. Ten others were injured in the attack, which occurred while Force was on a class trip. On March 23, 2018, Congress passed – and President Trump signed the Taylor Force Act.

Action Alert: Take Action Now
Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives to thank them for passing the Taylor Force Act
Contact your U.S. Senators to ask them to stop U.S. funding of Palestinian terrorism

Op-eds by OU Advocacy Center Executive Director Nathan Diament

• New York Daily News: Finally in sight, an end to U.S. taxpayer sponsorship of Palestinian terrorism
• The Jerusalem Post: How to end the Palestinian Authority’s ‘pay-for-slay’ laws

Background and History of Palestinian ‘Martyr’ Funding by Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, JCPA

• Incentivizing Terrorism: Palestinian Authority Allocations to Terrorists and their Families
• PA payment schedule for ‘martyrs’ 2013-2017

Videos

• Sen. Lindsey Graham describes Taylor Force Act and the ‘martyr’ reward system
• Sens. Lindsey Graham, Charles Schumer, Ben Cardin, Robert Menendez, Ted Cruz & Rep. Eliot Engel speak in favor of the Taylor Force Act

In the Media

• JTA: Spending bill includes big boost for Jewish groups seeking security money March 23, 2018
• Hamodia: Trump signs spending bill after threatening veto; bill includes Taylor Force Act  March 23, 2018
• The Dallas Morning News: House votes to cut off Palestinian aid unless ‘martyr payments’ end, to honor Texas veteran killed in Israel Dec. 5, 2107
• JTA: House passes Taylor Force Act targeting Palestinian funding for killers of Israelis Dec. 5, 2017
• Hamodia: House Foreign Affairs Committee Advances Taylor Force Act Nov. 15, 2017
  Jewish Link of New Jersey: Booker Casts Vote Against Taylor Force Act Aug. 10, 2107

OU Advocacy Center Statements

• Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Welcomes Inclusion of Four Major Priorities in Omnibus Federal Appropriations Bill; Thanks Bipartisan Sponsors for Swift Passage March 23, 2018
• Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Applauds U.S. House Passage of Taylor Force Act Dec. 5, 2017
• House Foreign Affairs Committee Advances Taylor Force Act Nov. 19, 2017
• Orthodox Union Welcomes House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Unanimous Vote to Stop U.S. Aid to PA Until it Halts Financing for Terrorists and Their Families Nov. 15, 2017
• Orthodox Union Commends Senate Appropriations Committee for Bringing Taylor Force Act Closer to Vote Sept. 7, 2017
• OU Advocacy Applauds Senate Foreign Relations Committee for Passing Bill to Stop U.S. Aid to PA Until it Stops Funding Terrorists and Their Families Aug. 3, 2017
• Orthodox Union Supports Legislation by Sen. Lindsey Graham to Stop U.S. Funds Supporting Palestinian Terrorism Feb. 28, 2017
• Orthodox Union Condemns Palestinian Terror Attacks, Mourns Killing of American Student, Appreciates Strong Condemnation by Vice President Biden March 9, 2016

Timeline
March 23, 2018: Congress passes and President Trump signs Taylor Force Act
Dec. 5, 2017: Taylor Force Act passes U.S. House
Nov. 15, 2017: Taylor Force Act passes U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee
Aug. 3, 2017: Taylor Force Act passes U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Feb. 28, 2017: Taylor Force Act re-introduced, 115^th Congress, by U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) & U.S. Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.)
Sept. 28, 2016: Taylor Force Act introduced, 114^th Congress, by U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
March 8, 2016: Taylor Force, a Vanderbilt University MBA student killed by Palestinian terrorist in Israeli port city of Jaffa; 10 others injured. Force was a native of Lubbock, Texas as well as a graduate of West Point Military Academy. During his service as a U.S. Army officer, he did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.