Republicans Threaten UN Funding Over Palestinian Statehood Bid

Republicans are once again taking shots at the United Nations.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has introduced a bill to cut off funding for the U.N. should it change Palestine's statehood status. The Solidarity with Israel Act comes as Palestinians are expected to submit a request to the U.N. for full membership. President Obama visited New York on Wednesday to oppose the bid.

“Israel is one of America’s strongest allies and friends, a beacon of democracy in the Middle East,” said Hatch. “Make no mistake, there will be consequences associated with efforts to undermine the security of America’s friends and allies.”

As Politico points out, "the measure appears to be another example of the GOP trying to woo Jewish voters following an upset victory in a New York special House election earlier this month."

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a $53 billion foreign aid bill that would, among other provisions, threaten closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization's DC office if they pursue a unilateral statehood bid.

This is hardly the GOP's first threat to defund the U.N. Last month, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced similar legislation. Earlier this year, House Republicans tried to cut off a U.N. climate science body as part of a large EPA cuts package.

The U.S. currently provides 22 percent of the U.N.'s budget.

Watch Obama's speech at the U.N.:

Comments

[carlgt1]

09:50 PM on 09/22/2011

obviously Repugs just hate any government, even a hypothetical Palestinian one!

[Jay from Ottawa]

07:16 PM on 09/22/2011

Since it is relevant to this argument: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6308.htm
"U.S. Intervention in the Middle East"

[shothot]

01:07 PM on 09/22/2011

Why don't we see this effort for a peace deal with the Palestinian? I liken Israel to a family member, constantly commiting crimes and going before the court ( UN), the parents (US) repeatedly appearing before the judge to get it off the hook. Ultimately this family member has/will commit another crime so heinous, there will be no redemption. Israel is an acquaintance, not friend.
As in my previous post, our first president warned us of this unholy alliance with another country and its inherit danger. And as we find ourselves living with the guilt of slavery, the genocide of the native americans, and other ungodly and immoral acts, we will live with the sins of Israeli.

The idea that we must choose the life of an Israeli child over that of a Palestinian child, speaks of our lack of a true moral code. the mere insane idea that in 2011, there is a country that legitimizes its suppression of millions of people. It defies rational thinking. The rockets are an act of defiance. Had the native americans possessed rockets, they too would have done the same, and labeled terrorists.

"Recognition" to say you forfeit any right of return to your homeland. Is it possible the Jews have conveniently forgotten the Warsaw ghettos? Has Hitler so damaged their psyche, they see everyone who speaks out against their acts as anti-semitic and threatens their existence.
And their paranoia sustained by the expansionist politicans........ and we are their accomplice.

[Hupee]

09:13 PM on 09/22/2011

Well said, I totally agree with everything!
I am frankly tired of us Americans being lied to. Israel is using our taxpayers money to build more settlements, and continue to inflict misery to a whole generation of Palestinians, as if they are not humans and deserve nothing better!
Why isn't the US cutting the $30B (I believe or just about) aid to Israel, if we really want peace and opose the building (stealing more land) of more settlements!
This conflict could have been resolved long time ago, if the US had only been an honest broker. Instead, the US (in our name) is supporting the genocide of the Palestinian people!
I pray Abbas holds firm and goes thru all the different chanels needed at the UN to once and for all gain recognizion of the existence of the Palestinian people. American people need to "open their eyes" and realize who really runs our government and dictates our Foreign Policy? I think the answer should be very clear this time around...! I am also tired of the anti-semitic card, it is always played when Israel is criticized, as if they are untouchable!
Peace will never be achieved, unless Palestinians are given their given right to live in the land (whatever is left) they inhabited before the US and BRITAIN created Israel at their expense and sacrifice...IT IS LONG OVERDUE!


I

[shothot]

03:23 AM on 09/23/2011

At least 2 of us get it (lol). great response in addition to my comment. Today will be interesting.
peace

[LIbislife]

01:00 PM on 09/22/2011

long over due, regardless of this outcome.

[mherrera]

11:51 AM on 09/22/2011

These Americans who just love Israel so much need to move there. Go. Be gone! Take your Christianity to the Western Wall and see how welcome you are. Report back but do not come back. I'm tired of my country being Israel's stooge.

[LIbislife]

01:00 PM on 09/22/2011

we own this country why should we leave?

[Ken Renner]

02:09 PM on 09/22/2011

Mherrer, I am Cherokee. Native and you can go to Hell.

[mherrera]

02:16 PM on 09/23/2011

You might want to help clean up some of the racism of your own people first. Check the news. Oh, learn how to compose a sentence in the white man's language.

[mjc]

11:46 AM on 09/22/2011

It isn't enough for the Republicans to destroy the government, even the concept of government, in the United States apparently. And I am here to tell you that the most resistant group to having a United Nations were those Republicans: didn't want to take orders from foreigners. Now they are back again spreading doubt about the role of the United Nations. Some of these Teas must be reincarnations from those who picketed Breton Woods in the late 40s.

[patience1]

11:36 AM on 09/22/2011

Ahhh.....The power of money ! It sure can blind anyone, he is willing to say dumb and stupid statements like that!

[rccthatsme]

11:36 AM on 09/22/2011

IF recognition of Palestine would get the US out of the UN, I would support their request for statehood. The area will soon be a war zone. The US foreign poliicy has emboldened the Arab world. Further, US training of extremist will result in Israel having to taek drastic measures to defend itself.

[Charles Fortner]

11:36 AM on 09/22/2011

The UN needs to relocate to a neutral country like Switzerland. The next time we need the UN to add legitimacy for another U.S. invasion we'll see how far that goes.

[mjc]

12:19 PM on 09/22/2011

The United States has, from the beginning, been the dominant state member. And as you have said, we have used the UN to gain acceptance for our intrusion into Korea with a phony attack on our ships in the Gulf of Tonkin which was the justification to go to war to help helpless South Korea.

[kokobin]

01:32 PM on 09/22/2011

And as you have said, we have used the UN to gain acceptance for our intrusion into Korea ....
************
The US also used the UN to justify invading Iraq (twice,) and attack Libya.

[Charles Fortner]

02:06 PM on 09/22/2011

I'm a little old and get confused from time to time but the Gulf of Tonkin incident was our justicication for making war on North Vietnam.

North and South Korea is a bit different. Japan conquered the whole of Korea and occupied it during WWII. The communists in Korea fought the Japanese. The government in exile fled to Shanghai and did not fight. The russians and the Korean communists liberated it. It gets more complicated. The allied powers decided to divide Korea at the 38th parallel without consulting the Koreans. The communists under Russia in the north and the United states in the south.

After various political muck ups and border skirmishes all out war erupted with the chinese supporting the North and the UN and the United states in the south. No peace treaty has been signed although there is an armistice. Very confusing and complicated war.

[Moe Sislak]

11:17 AM on 09/22/2011

Expression of free speech by other nations? That's crazy talk.

[hamba2han]

11:11 AM on 09/22/2011

If the US wants to slash funding of the UN, then the decent thing for it to do would be to withdraw and vacate it's seat on the UN Security Council.

If the price for no more US vetoes in favour of Israel in the UN Security Council is the stopping of US funds to the UN, then I do believe that this would be a pretty good deal for the rest of the world.

And so, please, please USA.. pretty please.. do indeed stop all of your funds to the UN and kindly vacate your seat on the Security Council.

[SweetSoulMusicMan]

11:10 AM on 09/22/2011

lol@ u orin....going extreme right isnt gonna help.....your teabagging out of the US senate is a done deal...making last ditch effords to save your tail aint gonna work....we all know you republican christian conservatives want to launch WW3 but we wont allow it...so just take ya ball and go home sir......YOURE TOAST

[fossilsb]

03:25 PM on 09/22/2011

Typical liberal hate speech. Get well soon.

[pomegrante]

11:08 AM on 09/22/2011

"This event underscores the nature of the Israel lobby in Washington. Political positions and decisions within AIPAC were and continue to be profoundly influenced by the Israeli government.

The tragedy is that much of the nation's progressive Jewish community defers to Likud-like organizations, and too many Jewish donors -- as with Christian Zionists -- buy into fear-mongering and rationalizations for anti-Palestinian discrimination transmitted from abroad. A Jewish community once at the forefront of pushing for civil rights and equality in our own country too often today supports organizations and candidates upholding Israeli discrimination in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and, increasingly, within Israel itself."

Mike Gravel, is a former two-term Senator from Alaska with a distinguished record that includes successfully ending the military draft with a five-month filibuster, releasing the Pentagon Papers risking both prosecution and jail, playing the leading role in making the Alaska pipeline a reality, and ending nuclear testing in Alaska. In March 2008 he quit the Democratic party saying "The fact is, the Democratic Party today is no longer the party of FDR. It is a party that continues to sustain war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism -- all of which I find anathema to my views." http://www.mikegravel.us/

[xhawk2]

11:06 AM on 09/22/2011

UN out of US, US out of UN.

[pomegrante]

11:06 AM on 09/22/2011

"This event underscores the nature of the Israel lobby in Washington. Political positions and decisions within AIPAC were and continue to be profoundly influenced by the Israeli government.

The tragedy is that much of the nation's progressive Jewish community defers to Likud-like organizations, and too many Jewish donors -- as with Christian Zionists -- buy into fear-mongering and rationalizations for anti-Palestinian discrimination transmitted from abroad. A Jewish community once at the forefront of pushing for civil rights and equality in our own country too often today supports organizations and candidates upholding Israeli discrimination in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and, increasingly, within Israel itself."

http://www.sajepress.com/2011/05/how-israel-loses-supporters-and-friends.html