§2378c–1 Limitation on assistance to the West Bank and Gaza

Summary

Money from the U.S. Economic Support Fund for the West Bank and Gaza that would directly help the Palestinian Authority can only be spent if the Secretary of State certifies by March 23, 2018 plus every 180 days after that (and no later than 30 days after March 23, 2018) that the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and any related groups are doing four things: taking real steps to stop violence against Israelis and Americans; stopping payments to people convicted of terrorist acts and to people who died carrying out such acts (including payments to their families); canceling any law or rule that pays people based on how long they were jailed for terrorism; and publicly condemning violence and helping investigate and bring attackers to justice. The Secretary must also say what definition of “acts of terrorism” was used. Some money is allowed even if the certification is not made: payments to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, wastewater projects up to $5,000,000 in one fiscal year, and child vaccination programs up to $500,000 in one fiscal year. The Secretary must tell the relevant congressional committees 15 days before using money for those exceptions. Money held back under these rules counts as meeting any similar withholding required by other laws and must be at least the same total amount. Withheld funds may remain available for two extra years and can be released to benefit the Palestinian Authority if the Secretary later certifies the conditions are met. If the Secretary cannot certify, they must report to Congress within 15 days explaining why, give the “acts of terrorism” definition used, and say how much money will be withheld; that report must be unclassified but may include a classified annex. The Secretary must also give Congress, within 15 days after March 23, 2018, a list of the criteria used to decide what “directly benefits the Palestinian Authority,” and update that list within 15 days of any change.