Risch Introduces Bill to Fight Antisemitism at the UN

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) today introduced the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act to cut off U.S. assistance to entities that give additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

“Once created to be a bastion of peace and security in the world, the United Nations is now a seat of antisemitism and in desperate need of reform. Israel is one of America’s greatest allies and we cannot tolerate or fund any anti-Israel bias or favoritism for the Palestinian Liberation Organization at the UN,” said Chairman Risch. “These bills will ensure that America has Israel’s back when it matters most.”

Additional House cosponsors include Reps. Jim Baird (R-Ind.), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Maria Salazar (R-Fla), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.), and Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.).

Background on the NOPE Act:

• Current U.S. law prohibits U.S. funding to organizations, such as the UN, which give the PLO full membership or standing as a member state. The NOPE Act updates the existing funding prohibition to organizations that offer the PLO “any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status.
• Bill text for the NOPE Act can be found here.