East Idaho Times

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, along with several other Republican senators, has co-sponsored a bill aimed at permanently banning U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The bill also seeks to redirect unspent U.S. UNRWA funding towards the construction of a border wall along America's southern border.

Crapo expressed concern about the Biden Administration's failure to address illegal border crossings and its funding of organizations involved in attacking America's greatest ally in the Middle East. He emphasized the need for Congress to take action to end funding for UNRWA and secure the country's borders, as relying on the Executive Branch alone is not sufficient.

The legislation has garnered support from other Republican senators, including John Kennedy, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, John Barrasso, Marsha Blackburn, and Kevin Cramer. Kennedy highlighted how Hamas utilizes UNRWA facilities as shields for carrying out antisemitic attacks against Israel, and how UNRWA resources are used for indoctrination purposes. He stressed that the U.S. cannot continue to fund a corrupt group that aids Hamas in attacking America's greatest ally.

Recent reporting has revealed alarming connections between UNRWA employees and Hamas. According to intelligence documents, at least 12 UNRWA workers had ties to the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people. UNRWA workers were found to have participated in the attack, provided logistical support, and procured weapons for the terrorists.

The United States is currently the largest contributor to UNRWA, providing $343 million in 2022 alone. This funding was reinstated by President Joe Biden, reversing the decision made by former President Donald Trump in 2018 to halt aid to the group.

UNRWA is one of the largest UN programs and heavily relies on donations from independent sources and states to carry out its programs. While its mandate includes providing education, healthcare, and emergency assistance to residents in various regions, independent reviews have shown that UNRWA-supplied curriculum promotes violence, martyrdom, and jihad.

The impact of this anti-Semitic indoctrination is significant, as approximately one-third of UNRWA's budget is allocated to providing education to refugees. Disturbingly, it has been revealed that seven UNRWA workers involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks were teachers for primary or secondary school children.

In 2015, a UN inquiry discovered weapons in UNRWA schools, further highlighting the concerning links between UNRWA's educational work and Hamas terrorism.

The text of the bill can be accessed for further details on the proposed measures.