As The Point previously discussed, Deputy UN Ambassador Richard Mills stated that the Biden administration intends to restore aid to the PLO’s terrorist entity and to “take steps to re-open diplomatic missions that were closed by the last U.S. administration”.
The move has already been condemned by the Zionist Organization of America and other Jewish groups.
As noted above, sending hundreds of millions of dollars to the Palestinian Arabs will enable the PA’s pay-to-slay payments to terrorists to murder Jews and Americans. And sending hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to UNRWA will enable UNRWA’s teaching of hatred of Jews and Israel and to support Hamas. It is wrong for the Biden administration to divert monies to a terrorist dictatorship, which is needed by suffering Americans at home, for such counterproductive purposes.
Moreover, Amb. Mills’ claim that such U.S. funding will merely help the Palestinian “people” and not the Palestinian Authority is utterly fallacious. Money is fungible. U.S. payments will save the PA from having to finance government services to its people, thereby freeing up more money for paying terrorist Arab murderers.
Further, much of this funding would violate the Taylor Force Act.
It would also violate U.S. law to re-open the PLO Mission in Washington, D.C. or anywhere else within U.S. jurisdiction (including in U.S. overseas diplomatic territory).
As Ambassador David Friedman tweeted yesterday evening about the Biden administration’s intention to re-open the PLO/PA missions and restore funding: “@DavidM_Friedman: Not so fast guys! PLO mission in DC is against Federal law, Pals still paying terrorists and UNRWA is corrupt and incites hatred of Jews. Please don’t go there!”
Indeed, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 (the “ATA”), Section 1002 (22 U.S.C. §5201.b) provides that “Congress determines that the PLO and its affiliates are a terrorist organization and a threat to the interests of the United States, its allies, and to international law and should not benefit from operating in the United States.” Further, ATA Section 1003 (22 U.S.C. §5202(3)) specifically prohibits the PLO, and its constituents, agents and successors, from establishing or maintaining “an office, headquarters, premises, or other facilities or establishments within the jurisdiction of the United States.”
The PLO mission in D.C. was illegal and remains illegal. Proposals to reopen the mission would be in violation of the law. Past administrations have ignored the law. The question is will pro-Israel organizations fight such a move in court and will the same courts that heavily restricted what the Trump administration could do allow the Biden administration to break the law by aiding terrorists.
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