(Yona Schnitzer/TPS) The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee unanimously approved for a first reading a bill that would deduct payments made to terrorists and their families by the Palestinian Authority from taxes collected by Israel for the PA.

“As long as the Palestinian Authority pays money to terrorists, and as long as that money goes through us, we in the Knesset and in the Committee can’t turn a blind eye!” said Committee Chairman MK Avi Dichter (Likud). “We will not be a funnel for channeling funds for terror,” he added.

The Palestinian Authority pays roughly $300 million annually to Palestinians convicted of terrorism and the families of Palestinian terrorists killed carrying out attacks against Israeli targets.