Trump May Cut Funding to UN If It Recognizes Palestinian State

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By Nathan Guttman January 26, 2017

A massive cut in American funding for the United Nations could be in the works if President Trump signs an executive order prepared by his aides.

The order, first reported by the New York Times on Wednesday, will cut at least 40% of funding for the international body and its agencies, if they grant full membership status to the Palestinians.

Congress has already passed legislation requiring funding cuts to UN bodies that recognize a Palestinian state, resulting in a cut to American funding for UNESCO. Recently, following the UN Security Council’s vote condemning Israel’s settlements in the West Bank, several members of Congress introduced legislation calling for cuts in America’s funding for the UN.

Israel and the pro-Israel lobby in America have supported threats to cut funding for the UN if it grants full membership status to the Palestinian Authority, in hope that it can deter international agencies from taking this step.

But the presidential order, if enacted, could also potentially harm Israel, since it entails a cut to UN international peacekeeping forces, including those stationed alongside Israel’s border with Syria on the Golan Heights.

Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com

Nathan Guttman, staff writer, was the Forward’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the staff in 2006 after serving for five years as Washington correspondent for the Israeli dailies Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. In Israel, he was the features editor for Ha’aretz and chief editor of Channel 1 TV evening news. He was born in Canada and grew up in Israel. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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