Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 2/10/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler, Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, released the following statement reacting to the breaking news that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had signed a decree canceling the horrific practice of pay-to-slay.

“While I am thrilled to hear that President Abbas has announced an end to pay-to-slay, I’ll believe it when I see it,” said MENA Subcommittee Chairman Mike Lawler. “There’s a reason we are planning to reintroduce the PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act in the 119th Congress, precisely because this brazen and abhorrent practice was still in effect up until today.”

“If this cancellation actually does result in the end of pay-to-slay terrorism, it will go a long way towards finding a permanent, peaceful solution to the conflicts we’ve seen in the Middle East,” concluded MENA Subcommittee Chairman Mike Lawler. “I remain cautiously optimistic that will be the case - but we must see the Palestinian Authority follow through on this.”

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.