Dear Dr. Harper:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent attack on Israel. I appreciate hearing from you.

It is deeply disheartening to see the violence taking place in Israel today. As Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee I take our relationship with Israel and Israel's security very seriously.  

Today, Israel faces a crisis on the scale of the September 11th attacks against the United States. On October 7, 2023, entire families, including children and the elderly, were killed in their homes by Hamas terrorists, with hostages dragged across the border to Gaza. The kidnapping and hostage-taking campaign Hamas has carried out is completely unacceptable. 

Regarding our policy toward Palestinians, the Biden Administration has argued that restoring funding would reform organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA). Two years later, we’ve seen no reform and have only seen conditions get worse – violence is at record highs and many Palestinians identify with terror groups. 

On February 15, 2023, I introduced the UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act, along with 13 of my colleagues. This bill would end U.S. contributions to UNWRA if we do not see meaningful changes. UNRWA has a long history of employing people connected to terrorist movements like Hamas, promoting anti-Semitic textbooks, and using its schools to store Hamas weapons. It is unthinkable that U.S. taxpayer dollars would be used to help fund such an organization. I oppose sending all money that the U.S. cannot ensure will stay out of the hands of terrorists.

Again, I value your effort to get in touch with me to share your thoughts, as many Idahoans do.  Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on this or other issues.

Very Truly Yours,

James E. Risch
United State Senator