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

Summary

The Secretary of State must send a written certification no later than 30 days after March 23, 2018, and every 180 days after that, before U.S. Economic Support Fund money that directly helps the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza can be used. The certification must say that the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and any successor groups are taking believable steps to stop violence, have stopped payments tied to acts of terrorism to people jailed for or killed in such acts (including payments to their family members), have undone any law or rule that pays people more because they got a longer sentence for terrorism, and are publicly condemning and investigating these violent acts. The Secretary must include the definition of “acts of terrorism” used for the payment decision. There are three exceptions: 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 appropriate congressional committees in writing at least 15 days before using money for any of those exceptions. If the Secretary cannot make the certification, she must send a report within 15 days saying why, give the definition of “acts of terrorism” used, and list the total amount being withheld. Withheld funds can stay available for 2 more years and may be released if the certification is later made. If unused after 180 days past their normal end date, the funds may be split 50 percent for aid that does not benefit the Palestinian Authority and 50 percent for purposes outside the West Bank and Gaza. The Secretary must also give Congress, within 15 days after March 23, 2018, a list of the rules used to decide what aid “directly benefits” the Palestinian Authority and update that list within 15 days of any change.