Over 100 House lawmakers threaten UN funding over attempts to ‘downgrade’ Israel’s status

More than 100 House lawmakers sent a bipartisan letter Thursday to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressing concern over a potential change to Israel’s status in the U.N. General Assembly.

The Palestinian Authority, according to the 105 lawmakers, is working to “downgrade” Israel’s standing to strip it of “key privileges” within the assembly. Such a move, they argued, could have devastating impacts on the U.S. if executed.

The lawmakers told Secretary-General Guterres the U.N. risks losing funding from the U.S. if such a downgrade occurs.

“Any downgrade in Israel’s status or standing at the UNGA will result in a corresponding downgrade of U.S. financial, material and political support to the UN,” the letter reads. “Congress has taken note of the numerous UN actions aimed to delegitimize Israel’s right to self-defense, raising serious questions over the future of U.S. funding to the UN.”

The U.S., the lawmakers continued, is the largest donor to the U.N., accounting for one third of the organization’s budget. Legislation recently passed by Congress would prohibit U.S. funding to the U.N. if Israel’s participation is downgraded in any way, they added.

“We respectfully request that you notify the ‘Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations’ of the seriousness of their actions,” the letter closes.

Among those who signed the letter were House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat, Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, and Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican.

A total of 12 Democrats signed the letter. The letter follows support for Israel from other Democratic lawmakers, such as Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat. He defended the Jewish state this month against claims by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, that it is responsible for the ongoing war.

“The tragedy in Gaza is 100% on Hamas,” Fetterman wrote. “Stop using civilians and hospitals as shields, surrender, and release all remaining hostages—and this ends.”