Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has joined a coalition of 26 states in calling for Congress to defund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) due to its ties to terrorism. The coalition sent a letter to U.S. Congressional leadership, highlighting the alarming connection between UNRWA and terrorist activities.
UNRWA made headlines recently when it announced the firing of over a dozen employees who were found to have participated in a terrorist attack against Israel in October. However, this is not the first time that UNRWA has been linked to terrorism. The agency has employed individuals with direct ties to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Among the alarming incidents associated with UNRWA, one school principal was discovered to be a moonlighting Islamic Jihad bomber, while another was a Hamas commandant. Additionally, a UNRWA school teacher was accused of detaining a hostage for nearly two months. Furthermore, a report revealed that every UNRWA school searched by the Israeli Defense Forces contained hidden weapons.
In 2018, former President Donald Trump recognized the concerning ties between UNRWA and terrorism and halted all federal funding to the agency. However, President Joe Biden reinstated funding for UNRWA on his first day in office, providing them with almost $1 billion dollars during his current term.
Attorney General Miyares expressed his concerns about taxpayer money being used to support organizations with direct ties to terrorism. He emphasized the importance of allocating funds towards education, infrastructure, and community protection, stating, "America cannot be the champion of human rights and liberty while also funding organizations that have direct ties to evil, death, and destruction."
The coalition of states is urging Congress to take immediate action and cut all funding to UNRWA. In light of the October 7 terror attacks and the agency's continued connections to terrorism, the coalition believes there is no justification for providing any financial support to UNRWA.
Virginia joined the letter initiated by Iowa and South Carolina, along with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
It is clear that the states involved are united in their stance against funding an agency with such troubling associations. The full letter can be accessed for further information.
In summary, Attorney General Miyares and 25 other states are urging Congress to defund UNRWA due to its ties to terrorism. They argue that taxpayer money should be allocated towards more constructive endeavors and not used to support organizations with direct links to evil and destruction. The coalition calls for immediate action in cutting all funding to UNRWA, emphasizing the need to prioritize the safety and well-being of communities.