Indy Standard

On May 11, 2024, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 24 Senate colleagues introduced the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act. This legislation aims to update existing funding prohibitions that would prompt the United States to withdraw assistance to entities that grant additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The NOPE Act is co-sponsored by Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Joni Ernst(R-Iowa), Markwayne Mullin(R-Okla.) and John Thune(R-S.D.).

This move comes after the United Nations General Assembly voted to enhance the current status of the PA at the UN. While this enhanced status falls short of full membership, it includes numerous rights and privileges previously granted only to full members.

Current U.S. law prohibits funding for organizations like the UN, which give the Palestinian Liberation Organization full membership or standing as a member state. The NOPE Act seeks to update this prohibition, extending it to organizations that offer the PLO "any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status."