Lankford, Risch, and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Stand Up for Israel at the UN

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – US Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and colleagues recently introduced the Stand with Israel Act to cut off US funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel.

“Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East,” said Lankford. “The United States will not tolerate antisemitism at the UN, and disrespect toward Israel will not be rewarded with American funding. This bill makes clear that we will continue to stand with Israel.”

“Israel is one of America’s greatest allies, and under President Trump’s Administration, we will no longer tolerate—much less fund—the blatant antisemitism at the United Nations. This bill will send a clear message to the UN and any other antisemitic international organizations: if you want America’s money, you’ll need to respect our Israeli friends,” said Chairman Risch. “America will always stand with Israel.”

In addition to Lankford and Risch, Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Boozman (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Cornyn (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ashley Moody (R-FL), and Deb Fischer (R-NE), also joined in support of this bill.

Background:

In 2024, Senator Lankford introduced this legislation, which is modeled after the current prohibition of funding to any UN entities that elevate the status of the Palestinian Authority to a member state. As co-chair of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, he continues to lead on issues of religious freedom and security. That same year, Lankford made a trip to Israel, where he visited towns in Israel that border the Gaza strip, toured Kibbutz Nir Oz, met with the survivors and families of the hostages of the October 7 massacre, visited the Nova Festival site, and spent a day along the border with Lebanon.

You can read the full bill text on the Stand with Israel Act HERE.