Existing funding prohibitions would be expanded to include United Nations’ organizations that give additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority or Palestine Liberation Organization under a bicameral bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN).
Introduction of the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act of 2024, H.R. 8345/S. 4311, followed a vote last week by the UN General Assembly to enhance the current status of the Palestinian Authority at the UN, according to information provided by the lawmakers.
The enhanced status, they said, may fall short of full membership, but it would include numerous rights and privileges that previously have only been granted to full members.
“With today’s vote at the United Nations General Assembly, the Palestinian Authority demonstrated a clear willingness to manipulate a gray area in U.S. law for its own cynical gain,” said Rep. McCaul, who on May 10 cosponsored H.R. 8345 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN).
“This important bill closes that gap, ensuring U.S. taxpayer dollars cannot support UN entities helping legitimize the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization,” Rep. McCaul added.
Current U.S. law prohibits U.S. funding to organizations, such as the UN, which give the Palestinian Liberation Organization full membership or 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,” according to the text of the bill.
Sen. Young on May 9 cosponsored S. 4311 alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) and 23 other original cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and John Thune (R-SD).