Boise City Wire

U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) have taken the lead in demanding a ban on U.S. aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). They have written a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, urging them to include "an immediate and permanent prohibition" of U.S. aid to UNRWA in the national security supplemental bill.

The senators' call for a ban on U.S. aid to UNRWA comes in the wake of recent revelations that 12 UNRWA staff members were directly involved in the October 7th attack on Israel. Furthermore, a report by the Wall Street Journal has revealed that around 10% of UNRWA's staff have ties to Islamic militant groups.

In their letter, the senators emphasize the seriousness of these revelations, stating, "Let us be crystal clear: last week's revelation that UNRWA staff members played a part in the October 7 attacks is not an example of a few bad apples acting out of turn. Instead, it is emblematic of an organization where no investigation or subsequent corrective measures will ever be enough to cure the rot that is so clearly endemic to its mission."

The senators argue that the United States should permanently halt all contributions to UNRWA. They highlight that Senate Republicans have already introduced several bills, including the UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act, to achieve this goal. They request that any supplemental package aimed at providing assistance to Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorists should include an immediate and permanent prohibition against U.S. contributions to UNRWA.

The letter has received support from a total of 21 Republican senators, including Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Katie Boyd Britt (R-Ala.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Susan Collins (R-Maine).

The senators' efforts to ban U.S. aid to UNRWA align with their commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in the use of American taxpayer dollars. They believe that supporting an organization with ties to Islamic militant groups is unacceptable and undermines efforts to combat terrorism.

The letter serves as a strong statement from these senators, urging their colleagues to prioritize the security and interests of the United States and its allies. It remains to be seen how their demands will be received and if the ban on U.S. aid to UNRWA will be included in the national security supplemental bill.

The full text of the senators' letter can be found [here](insert link to the letter).