U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Jim Risch, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Combat Antisemitism at the UN

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and several of their Senate colleagues in introducing the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act. The bill would cut off U.S. assistance to entities, such as the United Nations (UN), that give additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

“There has been a troubling pattern of anti-Israel sentiment across the UN and its affiliated bodies that has undoubtedly undermined their credibility. Given the disturbing rise in antisemitism at home and across the globe, I believe it is incumbent upon Congress to continue sending a resounding message that the United States denounces this hateful discrimination,” said Senator Britt. “Proud to join my colleagues in the NOPE Act to stand with our ally, Israel, and her people.”

Current U.S. law prohibits providing funding to organizations, such as the UN, that give the PLO full membership or any standing as a member state. The NOPE Act would update the existing funding prohibition to organizations that offer the PLO “any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status.” The full text of the bill can be found here.

“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. Israel is one of America’s greatest allies and we cannot tolerate or fund any anti-Israel bias or favoritism for the Palestinian Liberation Organization at the UN,” said Chairman Risch. “These bills will ensure that America has Israel’s back when it matters most.”

Senator Britt also joined Chairman Risch recently in reintroducing the Stand with Israel Act. The Senators’ legislation would prohibit the U.S. from funding UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. “Not a single dime of taxpayer money should be used to support or fuel antisemitism. It is imperative we use every tool in our toolbox to stand firm with the Jewish people and our great ally, Israel,” said Senator Britt on reintroduction.

Senator Britt continues to condemn antisemitism in all forms. She is a proud cosponsor of the Antisemitism Awareness Act and the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act.

Additionally, in November 2024, Senator Britt penned an open letter to Jewish college students amid an alarming rise in antisemitism on college campuses and a week after Israeli and Jewish soccer fans were violently attacked in a modern-day pogrom in Amsterdam.

In her letter, she continued to voice her support for Jewish students and condemned universities that have failed to confront antisemitism on their campuses: “I want to make clear to each and every Jewish student on an American campus: I and my colleagues won’t stand for this. While your administrators may not have your backs, we do. And we always will.”

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