### Bipartisan Lawmakers Warn U.N. of Funding Cuts Over Israel Retaliation

In a significant move, more than 100 U.S. House lawmakers from both parties have issued a stern warning to the United Nations, indicating that the organization's funding could be jeopardized if it retaliates against Israel for its conflict with Hamas. This warning comes in the form of a letter led by Representatives Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), expressing their concerns over potential actions by the Palestinian Authority to reduce Israel's status at the U.N. General Assembly.

The lawmakers emphasized that any attempt to downgrade Israel's standing at the U.N. would lead to a proportional reduction in U.S. financial, material, and political support for the U.N. Addressed to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, the letter has garnered signatures from 105 colleagues, encompassing key figures from both parties, including all House Republican leaders and several House Democrats.

The letter follows a recent resolution adopted by the U.N. General Assembly, which demands Israel return land and assets settled in Palestinian Territories since 1967. This resolution also urges other nations to halt treaties and trade relations with Israel concerning Palestinian territories. The U.S. lawmakers expressed outrage over this decision, particularly its implications for Israel's presence in the West Bank, arguing it undermines Israel's right to self-defense in the wake of the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.

The legislators underscored that the U.S. is the largest contributor to the U.N., providing one-third of its collective budget, and voiced serious concerns about the numerous U.N. actions that appear to delegitimize Israel's right to self-defense. They accused the U.N. of abandoning its neutral stance and taking a definitive side against Israel, a move they asserted would not be tolerated by Congress.

This development occurs as cease-fire negotiations are anticipated to resume after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces. Despite ongoing support for Israel within Congress, a growing number of Democrats have raised alarms over the high number of Palestinian casualties resulting from Israel's military actions in Gaza. This division was evident earlier this year when approximately half of the Democrats in Congress skipped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of the House and Senate.