Policy
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Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) called on congressional appropriators to cut all future funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) before next month's federal spending deadline, according to a letter obtained exclusively by The Washington Post. .
“In light of UNRWA’s track record of disturbing allegations and disturbing revelations since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, we believe that, from now on, no further funds from American taxpayers can be provided to the agency,” Issa wrote in a letter. On Wednesday to members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Work on spending bills that include foreign aid.
He added in the letter, which was signed by 27 Republican representatives in the House of Representatives: “The totality of the evidence related to UNRWA’s behavior shows its systematic and incurable ties to terrorism.”
The House and Senate will have to pass either continuing resolutions or separate spending bills to fund the federal government before March 1 or 8, depending on the agency in question.
State Department funds expire on the last two dates.
Last week, UNRWA faced allegations that 12 of its staff took part in the October 7 terrorist attack – with some kidnapping and killing Israelis – prompting the UN to conduct an internal investigation and donor countries including the US to temporarily halt funding.
Seven of those 12 employees held teaching positions at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees — and nearly 1,200 of its employees were identified as having ties to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, according to an Israeli intelligence file first reported by The Wall Street Journal. magazine.
“There are many other concerns,” Issa explained, citing reports. “Weapons have been found in UNRWA schools. Hamas tunnels have been found near UNRWA facilities. Hamas has stolen $1 million in UNRWA supplies since October 7, while UNRWA facilities may have been used to hold hostages.
He added, “UNRWA has also faced long-term criticism over its educational programs that indoctrinate Palestinian youth into anti-Semitism and terrorism.”
The Biden administration contributed $1 billion to UNRWA and was its largest international donor before it paused funding on January 26. Germany, the second-largest funder, has also withdrawn its donations in the wake of the shocking reports.
The State Department revealed to The Washington Post last week that $122 million has gone out the door since October for the refugee agency, which helps Palestinians provide food, water, shelter and other necessities in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) previously told The Post that the administration was “on track” to disburse a total of $371 million in fiscal year 2024 and had not provided “any clarity on how much of that funding will be affected by the ‘pause.’”
Since then, Smith and Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) have introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to permanently defund UNRWA, while the $118 billion national security supplemental package introduced by the Senate included a provision to the same effect.
But Issa assured the newspaper that presenting the proposal as part of the upcoming government financing bill would indicate its importance.
“We need to support our appropriators as they negotiate the next spending agreement — this will make clear that defunding UNRWA is a Republican priority,” he said.
Republican signatories to the letter included New Jersey Reps. Smith and Thomas Kean, Aaron Bean (Florida), Scott DesJarlais (Tennessee), Mary Miller (Illinois), Jeff Duncan (South Carolina), and Mike Flood (Nebraska). Barry Loudermilk (GA), Alex Mooney (WV), Barry Moore (Ala.), Ralph Norman (SC), Andy Ogles (TN), Cliff Bentz (OR), Matt Rosendaal (MT). Burgess Owens (Utah), Pete Stauber (Minnesota), Doug LaMalfa (California), Doug Lamborn (Colorado), F. Scott Fitzgerald and Tom Tiffany (Wisconsin), Claudia Tenney and Anthony D'Esposito (New York), Randy Weber, Ronnie Jackson, August Pfluger, Lance Gooden, and Keith Self (Texas).
