A federal judge in Texas has rejected an attempt by the administration of US President Joe Biden to halt a lawsuit aimed at stopping aid to the West Bank and Gaza.
The lawsuit dates back to 2022 and is backed by Republican congressman Ronny Jackson and three other individuals, including the parents of an American soldier who was stabbed by a Palestinian during a visit to Israel in 2017.
The case resurfaced following the recent “Operation Al-Aqsa” carried out by Palestinian resistance forces on October 7th against Israeli occupation.
The US Department of Justice urged US Magistrate Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in the Amarillo federal court to conclude that Rep. Ronny Jackson and his colleagues lack standing to challenge foreign aid. The DOJ argued that their claims of increased risk of harm are “entirely speculative.”
The judge, appointed by former President Donald Trump, ruled that the plaintiffs showed a “reasonable and justified fear” of harm if the funding continues, citing recent world events, specifically Operation Al-Aqsa.
The court, where Kacsmaryk presides, is known for attracting conservatives challenging government policies.
Based on this decision, the lawsuit will continue to be considered until a final ruling is made.
In a statement on Monday, Congressman Jackson stated that the decision “brings us one step closer to holding the administration accountable for illegally funding terrorism with American taxpayer dollars.”
Jackson and his co-plaintiffs regularly visit Israel and are represented in court by “America First Legal,” a legal group founded by former White House advisor Stephen Miller.
The lawsuit revolves around the “Taylor Force Act,” named after an American soldier who was stabbed by a Palestinian during a visit to Israel in 2017. The Act, passed by Congress in 2018, prohibits the Palestinian Authority from providing aid to families of martyrs and Palestinian prisoners.
The law also restricts direct US economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority until it ceases such payments.
The Biden administration has claimed that the law does not prevent what it calls “economic support funds” for the West Bank and Gaza, but only limits how the money is spent. The Congress allocated $225 million for this assistance in the fiscal year 2023.
However, the lawsuit alleges that the administration is “illegally laundering American taxpayer dollars” by providing aid to non-governmental organizations that directly assist the Palestinian Authority in violating the law.
