Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Doug Lamborn (R-CO), who both serve as Co-Chairs on the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, issued the following statement on the recent vote at the United Nations to authorize and fund the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Human Rights Practices:

            “As Co-Chairmen of the Bipartisan Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, we were dismayed to learn that Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro—alone among all European countries—chose to vote in favor of authorizing and funding the ‘Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Human Rights Practices’ (SCIIHRP) at the UN’s Fourth Committee on November 9th.

            The SCIIHRP is a destructive and anachronistic UN body that singles out the State of Israel for unjust stigmatization and condemnation. It is an egregious example of the double standard that is employed against Israel at the UN, which undermines any efforts to achieve peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. 

            At a time when Israel has been brutally attacked and so many of its citizens murdered, injured, and taken captive, it is particularly counterproductive for democratic and freedom-loving countries to vote in favor of resolutions that condemn Israel unfairly. 

            No other member state of the United Nations is similarly targeted. 

            The United States has consistently opposed this wasteful and harmful institution and continues to urge all of its friends to vote against authorizing and funding it.  We respectfully ask Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro to reconsider their unfortunate votes when the resolution approving the SCIIHRP is considered by the UNGA plenary in December.”

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