Brooklyn, NY - Today, Congressman Anthony Weiner (D - Brooklyn & Queens) renewed his call for an end to U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority, and U.S. assistance programs for the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Rep. Weiner issued the call on the heels of a House Appropriations Committee vote to provide $50 million in Palestinian relief.

Since 1999, the United States has provided over $700,000,000 in aid to the Palestinian Authority. Over the same time frame, hundreds of Israeli citizens have been killed in terrorist attacks. In the past 20 months, for example, there have been 34 Palestinian homicide bombings.

Every dollar in aid that the United States sends to the West Bank and Gaza frees up Palestinian Authority funds to finance terrorist operations. That’s more money to pay the families of homicide bombers, to send young boys to summer camps where they learn military and terrorist tactics, to provide young children with text books that glorify violence and call for the destruction of Israel, and to operate the Voice of Palestine Radio which spreads intifada propaganda throughout the region.

"Every time there is a homicide bombing, innocent Israeli civilians are maimed and killed, thousands more are terrorized, and the Middle East peace process is set back incalculably," said Rep. Weiner. "There is no moral justification for these acts of terror, and the time has come for the United States to stop rewarding the Palestinian Authority with millions of dollars. Only when the Palestinians put down their guns, set aside their bombs, and renounce violence of all kinds should the United States consider a resumption of aid."

In 2000, Rep. Weiner was the first Member of Congress to respond to Palestinian terrorism with legislation aimed at ending non-humanitarian aid. The House Appropriations Committee voted $50 million in Palestinian relief yesterday.