Cut U.S. funding over UNRWA's antisemitism

"Why is the Biden administration allowing U.S. tax dollars to be used to incite violence against Jews?

President Joe Biden decided early after entering office to fund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). That organization's employees and classes have repeatedly promoted antisemitism and glorified terrorism despite commitments by management to stop these activities.

For these and other reasons, the Trump administration announced in 2018 that the U.S. would ‘not make additional contributions to UNRWA.’ The Biden administration reversed this decision in 2021, restoring funding ($338.4 million in 2021 and $343.9 million in 2022) and declaring:

‘The United States is deeply committed to ensuring that our partnership with UNRWA promotes neutrality, accountability, and transparency. As with all of our engagements with U.N. institutions, the United States needs to be at the table to ensure that the reforms advance efficiencies and are in accord with our interests and values.’

A few months later, the State Department announced a new ‘ Framework for Cooperation ’ with UNRWA intended to strengthen ‘accountability, transparency, and consistency with U.N. principles, including neutrality.’ Under the agreement, UNRWA committed to review textbooks, educate staff on expectations of neutrality, discipline staff for violations, and similar measures.

Continued U.S. funding was supposedly contingent on UNRWA better policing its employees and classrooms to eliminate antisemitism, incitement of violence, and glorification of terrorism.

However, dollars continue to flow despite reports and studies by journalists , non-governmental organizations, and even the European Union illustrating that extremism still runs rampant...

The administration has given UNRWA nearly $700 million over the last two years. It is past time for the White House and Congress to hold UNRWA to its obligation to police its staff, its classes, and its structures. Until these incidents cease, the U.S. should cease supporting UNRWA."