Republican senator's hold on US funding to Palestinian territories remains in place
A spokesperson for Sen. Jim Risch said the hold will stay as long as the Palestinian Authority continues what has been called the "pay for slay" program, while senators have also introduced a bill opposing the Biden administration's funds for Palestinian refugees.
A Republican senator has vowed to continue holding up a portion of US aid to Palestinians due to a controversial program that provides payments to families of individuals who kill Israelis.
“As long as there is any question that additional funds could fall into the hands of terrorists through Palestine’s ‘pay to slay’ program, Senator Risch will exercise his right to hold them,” a spokesperson for Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho told Al-Monitor on Thursday.
The Palestinian Authority offers monthly payments to families of Palestinians who have been imprisoned or killed for conducting attacks on Israelis. The program is often referred to as “pay to slay” in Israeli media.
The program became an issue for Risch after US President Joe Biden restored US funding to the Palestinian territories in April. The funding had been cut by the previous administration of President Donald Trump. The funds included allocations for development, economic, humanitarian and peace-building assistance in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as money for the United Nations’ Palestinian refugees agency known as UNRWA. The same month, Risch placed a hold on $75 million of the total funding in opposition to the Palestinian payments program.
