Senator Cruz Proposes LIABLE Act in Response to UNRWA Staff's Alleged Terror Ties

Jaxon Wildwood

Updated Monday, March 4, 2024 at 6:20 AM CDT

Senator Cruz Proposes LIABLE Act in Response to UNRWA Staff's Alleged Terror Ties

In a bold legislative move, Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz, backed by seven GOP co-sponsors, is set to introduce a groundbreaking bill dubbed the Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism (LIABLE) Act. This act is aimed squarely at international organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), amid explosive allegations that some of its staff have engaged in terrorist activities. The UNRWA, a longstanding humanitarian agency established in 1949 to aid Palestinian refugees, is now in the eye of a storm following claims that around 12 of its employees supported the militant group Hamas in launching terror attacks against southern Israel on October 7, which included actions leading to the murder and abduction of American citizens.

The LIABLE Act, championed by Senator Cruz, is designed to strip such organizations of their current immunity from U.S. court jurisdiction concerning terrorism-related cases, potentially reshaping the legal landscape for international ent***** operating on American soil. This legislation would permit U.S. courts to adjudicate claims against international organizations if they are found to have connections with a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) like Hamas, and if the victims are U.S. nationals or those serving U.S. interests.

Amidst these allegations, the Biden administration has come under scrutiny for its continued financial support to UNRWA, despite freezing a portion of the allocated funds. Nearly $4 billion in taxpayer money has been directed to UNRWA from 2009 to 2024, with the U.S. contributing a significant share. While countries such as Germany, Italy, and Switzerland have suspended funding following the terror attack allegations, the Biden administration defends its stance by highlighting UNRWA's critical role in providing essential services in Gaza.

The LIABLE Act emerges as a response to a perceived gap in current laws that do not hold international organizations to the same standards for supporting terrorism as foreign governments. The International Organizations Immunities Act granted legal protections to international bodies similar to those of foreign governments, but the evolving State Department policy and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) have since introduced exceptions to such immunities, particularly in terrorism-related scenarios.

Senator Cruz, along with co-sponsors like Mike Braun, Marco Rubio, and Rick Scott, argue that UNRWA has been complicit in Hamas's terrorist activities for decades. The LIABLE Act thus seeks to enforce accountability by allowing legal claims for damages against organizations whose agents participate in torture, extrajudicial killing, or support for such heinous acts.

As the political battle lines are drawn, the introduction of the LIABLE Act by Senator Cruz and his colleagues signals a potential turning point in how the U.S. tackles the complex nexus of humanitarian aid, international diplomacy, and national security.

Conservative Bias:

In a display of true American patriotism and unwavering commitment to our nation's security, Senator Ted Cruz, a stalwart of conservative values, is leading the charge against the liberal-fueled madness that has bankrolled terrorists under the guise of humanitarian aid. The LIMITING Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism (LIABLE) Act is a much-needed corrective to the f***less policies of the Biden administration, which has continued to pour hard-earned American dollars into the coffers of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), an organization now exposed as a breeding ground for terror. Finally, with Senator Cruz's bold legislation, we will strip these international charlatans of their immunity and bring them to justice for their collusion with terrorist ent***** like Hamas, which have the blood of American citizens on their hands. The liberal elite's blind support for these terror enablers, under the flimsy pretense of providing aid, will no longer stand. It's time to hold these organizations to account and ensure that not a single cent of American taxpayer money is used to support the enemies of freedom and democracy. The LIABLE Act will ensure that the U.S. remains a beacon of justice, refusing to turn a blind eye to the treachery that has been festering within UNRWA, all while the left has willfully ignored the danger in favor of their globalist agenda.

Liberal Bias:

Once again, the conservative warhawks are on the prowl, seeking to dismantle international cooperation and humanitarian efforts with their latest draconian legislation, the Limiting Immunity for Assisting Backers of Lethal Extremism (LIABLE) Act. In a typical fearmongering fashion, Senator Ted Cruz and his GOP cronies are using unverified allegations against UNRWA staff to justify their xenophobic and isolationist agenda. This act is nothing but a thinly veiled attack on the United Nations and the vital aid it provides to Palestinian refugees, all in the name of scoring cheap political points with their base. The conservatives are exploiting a few isolated incidents to smear an entire organization that has been instrumental in delivering education, healthcare, and hope to millions. By pushing this act, they aim to undermine international law and strip away the protections that ensure cooperation among nations, all while demonizing a vulnerable population. The Biden administration's measured approach, which recognizes the importance of UNRWA's work amidst complex geopolitical challenges, is being cast aside in favor of reckless policies that threaten to destabilize an already volatile region. It's a dangerous game of political brinkmanship where the conservatives are willing to sacrifice peace and stability at the altar of their misguided and imperialistic world view.

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