Context:

The United Nations is facing criticism for allocating significant funds to the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian Territory, led by Navi Pillay, despite a global budget crisis. Critics argue that the Commission, seen as biased against Israel, has been awarded four new senior positions with substantial salaries while other urgent U.N. matters face budget cuts. The Commission's reports have been accused of fueling antisemitism and making unfounded allegations against Israel. The U.S. has expressed concerns about the COI's bias and has taken steps to defund it, while the U.N. Human Rights Council struggles with resource shortages. Despite attempts to implement cost-saving measures, critics argue that the U.N. has failed to effectively manage its expenditures over the years.

Dive Deeper:

• The U.N.'s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian Territory has been criticized for anti-Israel bias and has received funding for four new senior positions, despite the U.N.'s financial crisis, with salaries ranging between $530,000 and $704,000.

• Anne Bayefsky, a critic of the U.N., argues that the Commission was created to undermine Israel and that its recent report is filled with unfounded claims, such as comparing Israelis to Nazis and alleging that Jews desecrate Muslim holy sites.

• The U.S. has historically been concerned with the Commission's bias, and Congress passed a budget in 2024 eliminating its funding, as well as funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

• The U.N. Human Rights Council is experiencing a liquidity crisis, resulting in incomplete reports and unfulfilled mandates due to inadequate resources, contrasting with the additional resources allocated to the COI.

• Despite the introduction of the UN80 Initiative aimed at cost-cutting, critics like Bayefsky claim that the U.N.'s efforts are insufficient and call for withholding the entire U.N. budget until meaningful changes are implemented.

• The Trump administration has indicated a desire to eliminate U.S. funding for the U.N. and international organizations, reflecting ongoing concerns about the effective use of taxpayer dollars in supporting the U.N.

• The U.S. remains the largest contributor to the U.N., providing 26.8% of its expenditures in 2022, highlighting the significant financial stake the country has in the organization's operations.