Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Congress has been examining legislation that threatens an immediate suspension of U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority.

A leading senator has introduced a bill that linked U.S. aid to the PA withdrawal of its request to join the International Criminal Court. Under the legislation by Sen. Rand Paul, the administration of President Barack Obama would be forced to end some $400 million in annual aid to the PA, much of it to the security forces.

“It is up to the new Republican-led Congress to move on its own so that the president does not once again circumvent clear funding restrictions,” Rand said.

In a statement on Jan. 7, Rand, expected to run for president in 2016, said his bill was meant to ensure that Obama honors U.S. conditions of aid to the PA. Under U.S. law, the administration was banned from relaying funds to the PA should it petition the ICC to prosecute Israel.

On Dec. 31, 2014, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas signed international conventions as part of his campaign to join ICC. Abbas aides said the PA, slated to receive $440 million U.S. aid in 2015, would charge Israel with war crimes.

“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent turn to the international court at The Hague marked a major policy shift and transformed his relations with Israel from strained to openly hostile,” the legislation said.

The administration has objected to the PA move but criticized Israeli plans to suspend funds to the Abbas regime. Israel has relayed hundreds of millions of dollars worth of taxes to the PA.

“We are currently sending roughly $400 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars to the Palestinian Authority,” Paul said. “Certainly groups that threaten Israel cannot be allies of the U.S. I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure this president and this Congress stop treating Israel’s enemies as American allies.”

  Rand Paul bill would cut U.S. aid if Palestinian Authority pursues war crimes charges, WorldTribune.com