U.S. Senators Tim Scott and Jim Risch, alongside their Republican colleagues, have introduced the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act. This legislative proposal aims to stop U.S. assistance to any entities granting additional rights or privileges to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
Senator Scott expressed concerns over the United Nations’ actions: “Time and again, the United Nations has chosen to lend legitimacy to terrorist enablers while demonizing one of our closest friends in Israel.” He emphasized that U.S. taxpayer dollars should not be used “to legitimize antisemitism or embolden our enemies,” reiterating America’s commitment to supporting Israel.
Senator Risch criticized the current state of the UN: “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.” He asserted that America must not tolerate anti-Israel bias or favoritism towards the PLO at the UN.
Under existing U.S. law, funding is prohibited for organizations like the UN if they grant full membership or member state standing to the PLO. The NOPE Act seeks to extend this prohibition by targeting any organization offering “any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status” to the PLO.
The bill has gained support from several senators including Tom Cotton, Mike Lee, James Lankford, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz among others. It also received backing from House representatives such as Jim Baird and Michael McCaul.
