Amid growing concern over a potential move by the United Nations General Assembly to reject Israel’s credentials, leading members of Congress have introduced bills and sent letters threatening to cut U.S. funding if such a vote takes place. However, surprisingly, none of these proposals reference an existing U.S. law that already requires a suspension of funding in the event Israel’s participation in the UN is jeopardized.
The law, enacted in 1983, is clear and legally binding: If Israel is expelled, suspended, or denied its credentials to participate in any UN body, the U.S. is obligated to suspend its participation in that organ or agency and reduce its annual assessed contribution by 8.34% for each month the suspension lasts. This provision is automatic and does not require new legislation to enforce.
The introduction of new bills, with co-sponsors in both the House and Senate, echoes the penalties outlined in the existing law, but the current law is more robust—it mandates an immediate suspension of U.S. participation, rather than just a reduction in funding. In addition, it specifies a monthly penalty of 8.34% of U.S. contributions, rather than a full defunding, making it a potent deterrent against any move to block Israel’s participation.
Importantly, the law does not give the president the ability to waive these consequences, which means the U.S. is already legally obligated to act if Israel is targeted in this manner. As such, the threat of funding cuts is not a distant possibility, but a certainty if the General Assembly moves to expel Israel.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been vocal in his calls for Israel to be suspended or expelled from the UN. However, the UN Charter makes it clear that a member state can only be suspended or expelled by a recommendation of the Security Council, where the U.S. holds veto power. This makes it highly unlikely that Israel will face formal suspension or expulsion, as the U.S. is poised to veto any such recommendation.
Instead, the Palestinian-led bloc at the UN has proposed a maneuver to bypass the Security Council. Their strategy is to reject Israel’s credentials, a move which could effectively block Israel from participating in UN meetings. This tactic, though controversial, was previously used in 1974 to prevent South Africa’s participation in the General Assembly. However, the UN’s own legal counsel has clarified that rejecting Israel’s credentials would violate the UN Charter, which guarantees member states the right to participate in General Assembly meetings.
While the U.S. has significant diplomatic leverage through its Security Council veto, its greatest tool in this fight remains financial. As the largest donor to the UN, the U.S. contributes 22% of the core administrative budget ($1.54 billion in 2024) and 25% of the peacekeeping budget ($1.37 billion). Additionally, the U.S. contributes approximately $10.4 billion annually to various UN humanitarian efforts.
If Israel’s credentials are rejected, U.S. law mandates a cut in funding, which would deal a severe blow to the UN’s operations, particularly the General Assembly. President-elect Donald Trump, who has been highly critical of the UN in the past, is poised to enforce this law if Israel is targeted. During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from some UN agencies and cut funding for others, making it clear that he would not hesitate to act in the face of an illegal move against Israel.
With the potential for a legal showdown at the UN, the U.S. is already positioned to respond to any effort to expel Israel from the international body. The existing law that mandates funding cuts and the suspension of U.S. participation is more than enough to deter such actions, without the need for new legislation. In the face of threats to Israel’s participation, U.S. financial power remains a decisive factor in protecting Israel’s rights at the United Nations.
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