Trump to Stop All UNRWA Funding, Withdraw from HRC on Day of Netanyahu Meeting

President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order withdrawing the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council and halt funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency. This move coincides with his meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Key Facts:

  • The executive order is set to be signed on Tuesday, after being moved from Monday to coincide with Netanyahu’s visit to the White House.
  • The U.S. accuses the Human Rights Council of unfairly singling out Israel.
  • Israel has banned UNRWA from operating on its soil, citing its alleged links to Hamas.
  • Former President Joe Biden had paused funding to UNRWA following the agency’s firing of staff members tied to attacks on Israelis.
  • Trump and Netanyahu plan to discuss a second phase of the ceasefire with Hamas and the release of hostages.

The Rest of The Story:

Trump’s decision to leave the HRC is based on what a White House fact sheet describes as the council’s failure to curb human rights abuses and its single-minded focus on criticizing Israel.

The document, quoted by Politico, notes that in 2018 the council passed more resolutions against Israel than against Syria, Iran, and North Korea combined.

Meanwhile, UNRWA has been criticized for maintaining staff who are also members of Hamas, the group behind the deadly attacks inside Israel.

Israel’s recent ban on UNRWA came after warnings that the agency’s activities were placing Israeli security at risk.

Both Trump and Netanyahu plan to address ongoing tensions in the region, as well as Iran’s regional influence.

Commentary:

Withdrawing from a council that persistently targets Israel is overdue. There was little justification to re-engage with a body that has shown disproportionate hostility toward the only democratic state in the Middle East.

Such a bias, especially in light of recent terror attacks, calls for a definitive response.

Pausing or stopping funds to UNRWA is also a practical step, since evidence has pointed to connections between the agency’s staff and Hamas, not to mention several allegations by hostages that they were housed by UNRWA workers or below their headquarters in Gaza during the detention.

Israel has every right to act when its security is threatened, and the U.S. should not be expected to bankroll an organization that harbors members of a terror group.

It is fitting that Trump will sign this executive order on the very day he meets Netanyahu.

This move signals solidarity between the two countries, affirming that Israel can rely on the US for support.

There is no question they will discuss the status of the ceasefire, the urgent release of hostages, and ways to further regional peace.

They will also likely discuss ways to expand the Abraham Accords, a deal started under Trump in his first term, that has already brought several Arab nations closer to Israel.

Listening to Trump, it would not be surprising to see more cuts to U.N. funding in the future.

The Bottom Line:

Trump’s pending withdrawal from the HRC and pullback of support for UNRWA come at a critical moment.

These actions emphasize his administration’s strong stance alongside Israel, just as he sits down with Netanyahu to talk peace and security.

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