Senate

Cruz, Graham offer bill to cut off funding to UN over Israel vote

by Jordain Carney - 01/12/17 12:58 PM ET

GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) introduced legislation on Thursday that would cut off funding to the United Nations over a recent resolution denouncing Israeli settlements.

The bill would stop the flow of funds until the president confirms the repeal of a U.N. Security Council resolution that called Israel’s expansion into Palestinian territories a violation of international law.

Cruz said President Obama “betrayed decades of robust bipartisan American support for Israel” by having his administration abstain from voting on the resolution rather than vetoing it.

{mosads}”Congress must hold the U.N. accountable and use our leverage as its largest contributor to push for the repeal of this resolution, making it clear to the world that Congress stands unequivocally against efforts to undermine Israel,” he added.

Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry faced bipartisan backlash over the resolution late last year, with Republicans and Democratic lawmakers publicly urging them ahead of the vote to use the U.S.’s veto authority to kill the resolution.

Graham, who oversees funding for the State Department and foreign operations, called the vote “a slap” against the Middle East ally.

“I begged the U.N. months before, don’t put me in this box. This was John Kerry and Obama taking a slap at Israel,” Graham said.

The House passed a resolution on a 342-80 vote last week denouncing the Security Council vote. A majority of Democrats, 109, voted for the resolution, while 76 voted against it, and four voted “present.”

The Senate has introduced its own resolution, which is backed by 68 senators, though it hasn’t yet come up for a vote.

Tags John Kerry Lindsey Graham Ted Cruz