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Pearl River, NY, August 19, 2024
Today, Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) announced their introduction of the Stand with Israel Act, which will require the withholding of 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 Stand with Israel Act is endorsed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), FDD Action, Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and Heritage Action. It is co-led by Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) and its original co-sponsors are Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Maria Salazar (R-FL-27), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY-04), Greg Steube (R-FL-17), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ-07), Brandon Williams (R-NY-22), Neal Dunn (R-FL-02), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Lance Gooden (R-TX-05), French Hill (R-AR-02), Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), and Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23).
"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," said Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17). "We should not be giving a single cent to any UN agency that diminishes the status of Israel – and the Stand with Israel Act will ensure that we don't should this happen in the future. I'm grateful for the broad support for this legislation from so many organizations and from colleagues in both parties. I look forward to getting this important legislation passed and I will always stand with our friend Israel."
"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," said Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23). "The UN should be using its power to pressure Hamas every day to accept a ceasefire and return the hostages. Any UN agency that is seeking to punish Israel for this war should not be funded with Americans’ tax dollars."
"Antisemitism must be met with unwavering and resolute rejection, whether from individuals or international institutions. The UN's persistent anti-Israel bias is no exception. As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, I am committed to ensuring our friends in Israel are supported and that we are fighting back against antisemitism on every front. The Stand with Israel Act sends a clear message: America will not fund or enable any entity that seeks to undermine, delegitimize, or target the Jewish state. This legislation reaffirms that those who perpetuate anti-Israel sentiment will face consequences for their actions, and the United States will stand firmly with our ally Israel," said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01).
"The international community has long unfairly scrutinized and ostracized Israel at the U.N. Now, as countries and organizations around the world engage in antisemitic, anti-Israel rhetoric, we must ensure that our key democratic ally in the Middle East has a full voice at the United Nations. That’s why I’m proud to lead the Stand with Israel Act with my Problem Solvers Caucus colleague Congressman Mike Lawler," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (R-NJ-05).
"Antisemitism is never acceptable and that includes institutional antisemitism. The outrageous bias against Israel evident in the U.N. must be met with consequences. I stand with America’s friend and ally Israel, which is why I am proud to cosponsor the Stand with Israel Act to ensure accountability if Israel is expelled from or its membership is downgraded, suspended, or otherwise restricted at any U.N. agency," said Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02).
"There has been a startling amount of anti-Israel bias found at the United Nations, and it is vital that American taxpayer dollars are never used to fund antisemitic hatred being advanced by any UN agency. I am proud to co-sponsor the Stand with Israel Act to ensure American financial support to the United Nations is not used to undermine our nation’s greatest ally in the midst of their fight for survival against terrorist entities," said Congressman Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY-04).
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"The United Nations has a long and disreputable history of virulent antisemitism regarding its hateful treatment of Israel, the lone Jewish state in the world. Congressman Lawler has introduced the Stand with Israel Act to address this disgusting bias. Once passed, this legislation will ensure that no U.S. funding be available for the United Nations (or any other international organization) if 'it expels, downgrades or suspends membership, or otherwise restricts the participation of Israel in the U.N.' The ZOA heartily endorses this legislation, to help protect our strong ally, Israel, which is, even now, fighting the Western democratic world’s fight against the Jihadist regime in Iran, and that nation’s Jihadist puppets in Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. ZOA thanks Representative Lawler for his leadership on this issue and in the U.S. Congress," said Morton A. Klein, National President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA).
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