Senators to Introduce Legislation Combatting Israel’s Persecution at the United Nations

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BISMARCK, N.D. - During a United Nations (U.N.) emergency special session in May, the General Assembly adopted a resolution upgrading Palestine to a "Permanent Observer State." This allows Palestine to participate in all U.N. proceedings, increasing the Palestinian Authority's ability to deny or dilute Israel's status in the organization.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in announcing their intent to introduce the Stand with Israel Act once the Senate and House reconvene in a few weeks.

This legislation prohibits U.S. funding to U.N. agencies which expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. In a September speech at the U.N. General Assembly, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas indicated the Palestinian Authority would attempt to downgrade Israel's status at the U.N.

"The United States must unequivocally support Israel's right to defend itself,"said Cramer. "If the United Nations moves to expel, downgrade, suspend, or restrict Israel's participation in any way, it should not receive a cent from the American taxpayer. We have to stand by our strongest ally in the Middle East and really push back against these deliberate, antisemitic attempts to punish Israel for simply defending its own existence."

"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 I can to ensure any changes to Israel's status will come with consequences."

The Stand with Israel Act has been endorsed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, FDD Action, Republican Jewish Coalition, Endowment for Middle East Truth, Christians United for Israel, Heritage Action, Combat Antisemitism Movement, and Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

Additional cosponsors of the legislation include U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

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