Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) introduced a bipartisan resolution on Monday condemning the murder of three Americans in the Jerusalem Jaffa Road bus bombing in February 1996 and calling for the Palestinian Authority to renounce salary payments to terrorists.
The “Resolution to Stop Rewarding Terrorists” is co-sponsored by Reps. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.).
The resolution names three Americans killed in the suicide bombing: New Jersey resident Sara Duker and her boyfriend, Connecticut resident Matthew Eisenfeld; and New York City resident Ira Weinstein.
The resolution states that “Hamas has killed more than 400 Israelis and at least 25 United States citizens” and that “the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that 1,360 people have been killed by Palestinian violence and terrorism since September 2000.”
It calls out the P.A. for financially rewarding terrorist “martyrs” and their families.
The measure acknowledges the Taylor Force Act enacted in March 2018, which defunds most U.S. assistance to the P.A. for said payments.
In a statement, Gottheimer linked the resolution to this week’s student body vote at Columbia University on a non-binding referendum BDS referendum on whether they believe that the school should divest its holdings with companies that do business with Israel.
“Nearly 25 years since the terrorist attack which killed innocent American citizens, including Sara Duker, from my district, the Palestinian Authority continues to reward terrorist perpetrators with generous ‘martyr payments.’ This brutal practice is indefensible, and should be condemned by all who care about justice and human rights,” said Gottheimer. “There are few clearer examples of bias and double standards than supporting the hostile and anti-Semitic BDS movement while turning a blind eye to rewarding terrorism.”
