Israel envoy welcomes Trump plan to defund UN bodies recognizing PA membership
The move, first reported in the New York Times, would create a committee tasked with reviewing US aid to the international bodies and programs.
By DANIELLE ZIRIUpdated: JANUARY 26, 2017 11:08Danny Danon(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
NEW YORK - Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon suggested on Wednesday that he welcomes US President Trump’s plan to sign an executive order that would halt all US funding to UN agencies that recognize the Palestinian Authority or Palestine Liberation Organization as a full member."The Palestinians continue threaten us with additional unilateral actions and we will continue to battle these attempts,” Danon said after news of the potential initiative broke out “We welcome any initiative aimed at thwarting these attacks.”“The international community must make clear to the Palestinians once and for all that the only way to move forward is by them ending terrorism and incitement and returning to direct negotiations,” the ambassador added.The move, first reported in the New York Times, would create a committee tasked with reviewing US aid to the international bodies and programs. The order specifically calls for a review of aid to UN peacekeeping efforts.The Palestinians enjoy "non-member state" status at the UN, which grants them limited operational freedoms. Washington funds roughly 22 percent of the UN's overall annual budget.Trump's consideration of this executive order, titled “Auditing and Reducing US Funding of International Organizations,” pairs with a Senate effort to legislate similar threats against the UN over its actions targeting Israel. That effort, led by senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, gained steam after the Obama administration last month abstained from a Security Council resolution condemning Israel over its settlement enterprise.The executive order would also target organizations that circumvent sanctions against Iran, or that support reproductive rights.Michael Wilner and Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.