The Palestinian Authority’s con game might soon be coming to an end.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted in favor of the Taylor Force Act. The proposed bill would punish the Palestinian Authority (PA) for continuing to financially support jihadists who perpetrate terrorist attacks against Israel or the United States.

It’s about time.

What Is the Taylor Force Act?

The Taylor Force Act is a proposal that would pressure the Palestinian Authority to cease the financial support of radical Islamic terrorists who carry out attacks against Israel. Under PA President Mahmoud Abbas, the organization has claimed to be willing to work towards peace with the Jewish state. However, the fact that they still financially support terrorists and their families says otherwise.

Should this proposal become law, the United States would only provide the PA with assistance if they take “credible steps to end acts of violence against United States and Israeli citizens that are perpetrated by individuals under its jurisdictional control.”

The bill also requires the PA to cease “payments for acts of terrorism against United States and Israeli citizens to any individual who has been imprisoned after being fairly tried and convicted for such acts of terrorism and to any individual who died committing such acts of terrorism, including to a family member of such individuals.”

The Times Of Israel reported that last year, the United States gave about $712 million to the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA). If we send money to Palestine, and they support terrorists financially, then whether we like it or not, we’re funding terrorism with U.S. tax dollars. If the PA wants to continue supporting terrorism, this act would require them to do so without our help.

Ending the Palestinian Authority Martyr’s Fund

The Palestinian Authority has bamboozled the United States by pretending to fight terrorism while not-so-secretly funding it. This is nothing new. Both the PA and terrorist group Hamas have stated that they want peace with Israel, but have responded to every Israeli concession with violence.

According to The Washington Post, the PA allotted about $140 million for payments to Palestinian operatives who were either currently or previously incarcerated as terrorists. The organization paid $175 million to the families of individuals who have martyred themselves while committing acts of terrorism. These payments amount to almost half of the sum of money the United States sent to the Palestinians last year.

The U.S. Must Reject Appeasement and Get Tough on Terror

President Donald Trump has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and plans to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city. This move is intended to send a message to Hamas, the PA, and Israel’s other enemies.

Previously, the U.S. encouraged Israel to give concessions to promote a peaceful solution. Each time the Israelis gave in to the Palestinian’s demands, they were rewarded with more violence.

Now-deceased Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, fooled Israel and the United States into giving up more land while the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) engaged in more violence. Under Abbas, the PA has gotten away with following Arafat’s example. However, if the House’s recent vote is any indication, that game might soon be over.

It has become clear that merely giving the Palestinians more of what they want does nothing to advance a peaceful solution. After all, why should the PA come to the table when they can just squeeze more money out of the United States and other western nations by doing as they please?

Since appeasement doesn’t work, it is time for the United States to take a tougher approach. Israel’s enemies won’t respond to their or our overtures for peace, but if we hit them where it really hurts – in the wallet – we might just see some change.