Crapo, Risch and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Stand Up for Israel at the UN

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Marsha Blackburn (R- Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Ashley Moody (R- Florida) and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), today introduced the Stand with Israel Act that would cut off U.S. funding to United Nations (UN) agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel.

“America unequivocally backs Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East, in its right to defend itself against terrorist attacks and ensure the security of its citizens.  This Act will hold the United Nations accountable for antisemitic attempts to restrict Israeli participation in UN agencies as the Trump Administration works to achieve regional stability and peace,” said Senator Crapo.

Senator Crapo is a staunch ally of Israel who recently joined in introducing the Israel Security Assistance Act, co-sponsored a resolution asserting Israel’s right to self-defense and supported a resolution to strengthen the economic ties between Israel and the United States.

“Israel is one of America’s greatest allies, and under President Trump’s Administration, we will no longer tolerate—much less fund—the blatant antisemitism at the United Nations.  This bill will send a clear message to the UN and any other antisemitic international organizations: if you want America’s money, you’ll need to respect our Israeli friends,” said Chairman Risch.  “America will always stand with Israel.”

Background on the Stand with Israel Act:

• The Stand with Israel Act would cut off U.S. funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel.  The bill is modeled after the current prohibition of funding to any UN entities that elevate the status of the Palestinian Authority to a member state.

The bill text can be found here.

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