WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID) and 26 of their GOP Senate colleagues in announcing their intent to introduce the Stand with Israel Act when the Senate and House reconvene in November. This legislation 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. This is companion legislation to bipartisan House bill HR 9394 led by Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).

“The United States must end funding to the UN if they cave to the Palestinian Authority and downgrade or restrict the State of Israel’s participation in any way,” said Senator Mullin. “Senate Republicans will not allow American taxpayer dollars to fund organizations that undermine the authority and autonomy of the only democracy in the Middle East. I’m glad to support this common sense legislation.”

“Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the UN is clearly anti-Semitic,” said Ranking Member Risch. “That said, if the UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN, the U.S. must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted that this outrageous idea has even been discussed, and will do all we can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences.”

Sens. Mullin and Risch are joined on this legislation by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tim Scott (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), John Thune (R-SD), and Deb Fischer (R-NE).

BACKGROUND:

• Reports indicate that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will attempt to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN.
• The PA is able to do this after the UN General Assembly passed a biased resolution which enhanced the PA’s status at the United Nations on May 10, 2024.
• Following that vote, Ranking Member Risch led 24 Senate colleagues in introducing the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act, legislation to update existing funding prohibitions in law that would cause the United States to cut off assistance to entities that give additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority.
• 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.

Text of the Stand with Israel Act can be found here.

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