Congress Officially Warns UN

Congress has gone on record as warning the United Nations that if the General Assembly or any, UN specialized agency expels Israel or denies Israel’s right to participate in any matter, the United States will suspend its participation in that body and withhold all funds for it. The House approved a resolution containing the warning by a 401-3 vote. A similar resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 14.

Rep. Dante Fascell (D. Fla.) warned on Monday there is reason to believe that the General Assembly may be pressed this fall to take action on a resolution expelling Israel. He said if it did so, it “would trigger United States withdrawal” from the General Assembly.

Rep. Jack Kemp (R. N.Y.), who with Sen. Daniel Moynihan (D. N.Y.) authored the measure, said “the real threat is not to Israel, but to the integrity of the United Nations. If the General Assembly should attempt illegally to expel Israel, the United Nations would be casting aside what vestiges of respectability and honor it may retain.”

The resolution adopted by the House differs from the Senate version in that it deleted a reference to action against “any other democratic states.” Fascell explained that while the United States is concerned about the universality of the UN, “if we are concerned here about Israel, then let us name our concern and not couch it in broad language.”

However, it is believed that there was a fear that efforts might be made to embarrass supporters of Israel by using the resolution in support of South Africa which has been suspended by the General Assembly. The Senate is expected to go along with the change.

The three Representatives who voted against the House resolution today were John Conyers (D. Mich.), Robert Kastenmeier (D. Wisc.) and Gus Savage (D. III.).