The Washington Free Beacon reports that a discreet move on Election Day, by the Biden-Harris administration waived mandatory terrorism sanctions on the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), despite determining that the Palestinian government continues to pay stipends to imprisoned terrorists and families of “martyrs” who committed violence against Israel.

These payments, part of the controversial “pay-to-slay” program, have previously been grounds for U.S. sanctions under laws prohibiting aid to the PA unless the program is ended.

In a non-public notice to Congress, the State Department admitted that the PA and PLO are violating agreements to curb terrorism but argued that a blanket denial of U.S. visas to Palestinian officials could hinder U.S. diplomatic goals. The timing of this waiver, coming as Americans voted in the presidential election, allows the Palestinian government another 180 days without sanctions, extending past the transition to the new administration.