Possible rewrite: “Potential UN Grant of Statehood to Palestine Could Prompt U.S. to Cut Funding”

The Palestinian Authority, which supported Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre, may soon receive “rights and privileges” similar to those of member states in UN forums, essentially making “Palestine” a de facto UN member.

This potential action, with the approval of the Biden administration, would be a moral travesty reflecting the biases of the United Nations.

However, it could create an opportunity for a future President, like Donald Trump, to terminate all US funding to the UN.

The PA, led by Mahmoud Abbas, seeks international recognition of “State of Palestine” to avoid negotiating with Israel and making concessions.

The PA’s goal is to establish a diplomatic “fait accompli” to complement its on-ground activities using terror and illegal construction.

The UN, historically biased against Israel, has been a fertile ground for the PA’s internationalization efforts.

Congress has passed laws prohibiting funding to the UN or its agencies if they grant the PA member-state status.

As the largest contributor to the UN, the US should prevent the UN from granting privileges to a terrorist entity like the PA.

Granting PA membership privileges without meeting statehood criteria could trigger a US defunding statute.

Previous actions by UNESCO, granting the PA “member state” status, led to the US halting its funding to UNESCO under existing laws.

The PAs aim for privileges of a member in various UN bodies could bypass the Security Council but may trigger US defunding statutes.

If the resolution passes, the Biden administration may choose not to defund despite legal grounds to do so.

This potential move could lead to Congress not renewing the UNESCO waiver next year and pave the way for future presidents to consider defunding the UN.

The UN, plagued by corruption and anti-Semitism, presents challenges in defunding efforts in Congress, but a future president could halt funding based on legal justifications.

Should the UN bet on a future Biden reelection to support this terror regime?

Eugene Kontorovich is a professor at GMU Scalia Law School, and a scholar at the Kohelet Policy Forum.