A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is taking a stand in support of Israel, introducing a bill to protect the country from potential political turbulence at the United Nations. Led by Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), the bill would withhold funding from any UN agency attempting to restrict Israel’s involvement in global affairs.
This move comes as anti-Israel protests are expected at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. Demonstrators are voicing their concerns about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for policy changes regarding Gaza and even labeling Vice President Kamala Harris a “killer.”
Lawler expressed his stance firmly, stating, “With anti-Israel bias running rampant at the UN, it is more crucial than ever that we stand up to this disgusting hypocrisy and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our closest ally. We should not be giving a single cent to any UN agency that diminishes the status of Israel.”
Echoing this sentiment, Moskowitz, who is Jewish, condemned the UN’s perceived bias, stating, “The United Nations has been biased and almost useless after Hamas murdered over a thousand innocent Israelis, but has held Israel to a ridiculous, antisemitic double standard when it has exercised its right to defend itself.” He also urged the UN to pressure Hamas into accepting a ceasefire agreement.
The bill’s introduction follows the UN’s recent non-binding decision calling for Israel to halt settlement construction in the West Bank. The UN has also expressed growing concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The US, however, has generally stood by Israel throughout the conflict, including vetoing a resolution that would have granted Palestine full UN membership status.
The proposed legislation has garnered support from two additional Democrats and 21 Republicans. Both Democratic co-sponsors, Representatives Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NY), are Jewish. This initiative comes at a time when anti-Israel sentiment is rising, with a group of delegates at the DNC, known as “Delegates Against Genocide,” planning to protest the party platform’s lack of support for an arms embargo on Israel.
The bill, if passed, would serve as a clear signal of US support for Israel and could potentially reshape the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the UN framework. It remains to be seen how this bill will be received by the Democratic Party and how it will impact the ongoing debate on the international stage.
