U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has spearheaded a group of 24 Senate colleagues in introducing the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act. This legislation aims to update existing funding prohibitions that would result in the United States discontinuing assistance to entities that grant additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority.
“The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are deeply flawed, plagued by corruption, and incite terrorism through the egregious ‘pay for slay’ program. Giving the PLO a voice at the United Nations is preposterous and fails to account for the PLO’s role in inspiring generations of Palestinians to support acts of terror,” Risch stated. He further added, “This legislation will ensure taxpayer dollars are not used to give the PLO credibility.”
On Friday, May 10th, it is expected that the Palestinian Authority will seek a vote in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to upgrade its current status at the UN. While this enhanced status may not equate to full membership, it could encompass numerous rights and privileges previously only granted to full members.
Present U.S. law prohibits U.S. funding to organizations like the UN that grant full membership or member state standing to the PLO. The NOPE Act proposes an update to this existing funding prohibition by extending it to organizations that offer any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status to the PLO.
The full text of this proposed legislation can be found here.
