WASHINGTON, January 8 (Sputnik) — US aid to the Palestinian Authority will halt, if the Congress passes the Defunding Palestinian Foreign Aid Act introduced by Senator Rand Paul Wednesday, according to a statement released by the senator's office.
"This legislation will call for the immediate halt of U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority until it withdraws its request to join the International Criminal Court (ICC)," the statement said.
According to the legislation, Palestinians get about $400 million assistance from the United States every year.
On December 31, 2014, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed a request to join the ICC as well as a number of other international treaties, after UN Security Council failed to pass the resolution on the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Last Sunday, the Haaretz newspaper reported that Israel plans to urge US Congressmen to terminate financial support to Palestinian Authority in case it files a lawsuit against Israel in the ICC.
On Tuesday UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that Palestine will join the ICC on April 1. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has previously indicated that he sees the ICC as means to prosecute Israel for constant attacks.
