Legislation Reintroduced to Sanction Palestinian Leadership Over Terror Payments

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Washington, D.C., Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has reintroduced the PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act, a bill aimed at imposing sanctions on individuals, organizations, and financial institutions that facilitate payments to Palestinian terrorists or their families. This legislation targets what has been labeled as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority’s (PA) “pay-for-slay” program.

 

“The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization continue to support terrorism against Israel by providing hundreds of millions of dollars per year in their reprehensible ‘pay-for-slay’ program,” Senator Cotton said. He emphasized that these payments incentivize and reward anti-Semitic acts of violence, stating, “Anti-Semitic Palestinian terrorists know they can expect payment as a reward for killing Israelis and Americans—with thousands of Palestinian terrorists tied to October 7 eligible for these terror payments. Our bill will ensure that the PA, PLO, and their institutions that reward acts of terrorism are punished.”

 

The proposed legislation has garnered support from Republican lawmakers, with Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) cosponsoring the bill. Congressman Mike Lawler (New York-17) plans to introduce companion legislation in the House.

 

The bill outlines sanctions on:

• Individuals employed by the PLO or PA who facilitate or directly provide these payments, or knowingly offer significant financial, material, or technological support to the system of compensation for acts of terrorism.
• Entities involved in the PLO and PA’s system of compensation, including the Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners, the Institute for the Care of the Families of the Martyrs and the Wounded, the Palestine National Fund, and the National Association of the Families of the Martyrs of Palestine.
• Financial institutions participating in transactions that support the PLO and PA’s compensation systems for terrorism.

 

This legislation reflects an effort to confront long-standing concerns over the PA and PLO’s financial incentives for terrorism. Critics of the program argue it not only perpetuates violence but also undermines peace efforts in the region. The “pay-for-slay” policy has drawn international criticism for its use of public funds to compensate individuals who commit acts of violence, with the payments often increasing based on the severity of the act.

 

Supporters of the bill aim to hold those responsible accountable by targeting the financial infrastructure supporting these payments. Senator Cotton and his colleagues see the legislation as a decisive measure to deter terrorism and punish entities that reward acts of violence against Israeli and American citizens.

 

The full text of the bill has been made publicly available for review, signaling a commitment to transparency as this legislation moves through Congress.

 

Based on a report by cotton.senate.gov 2025-01-25