Graham to propose measure cutting aid to UN

Graham to propose measure cutting aid to UN
By Nikita Vladimirov - 12-24-16 12:02 PM EST

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is pledging to propose a measure to cut U.S. funding to the United Nations unless it repeals a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements.

"It's that important to me," Graham told CNN on Saturday. "This is a road we haven't gone down before. If you can't show the American people that international organizations can be more responsible, there is going to be a break. And I am going to lead that break."

Graham pledged to work to "leave no doubt about where America stands" when it comes to the Middle East and Israel.

The U.N. Security Council on Friday passed a resolution that calls for Israel to stop settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The vote sparked immediate criticism from numerous U.S. and Israeli lawmakers who blasted both the U.N. and the Obama administration, which declined to use its veto power to defeat the resolution.

"We abandoned Israel," Graham told CNN. "I am a huge supporter of foreign aid and the U.N. ... but I can't support funding a body that singles out the only democracy in the Middle East who shares our values."

On Friday, he called the U.N. resolution a "provocative action" that "must be dealt with sternly and forcefully."

"If the United Nations moves forward with the ill-conceived resolution, I will work to form a bipartisan coalition to suspend or significantly reduce United States assistance to the United Nations," Graham said shortly before the vote.

"In addition, any nation which backs this resolution and receives assistance from the United States will put that assistance in jeopardy," he added.

President-elect Donald Trump, who before the vote pushed the Obama administration to veto the resolution, tweeted afterward: "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th."