Congress takes aim at UN over Israel stance

Julian Pecquet

Feb 2, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 25: Representative Chris Smith(R-NJ) speaks during a Capitol Hill briefing to discuss "the silent suffering of American children and their left-behind parents who are victims of international parental child abduction" in the Cannon House Office Building on June 25, 2015 in Washington DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/ Getty Images) — New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith said Feb. 2 that the United Nations all too often serves as a platform for efforts against Israel. Here, Smith speaks during a Capitol Hill briefing on June 25, 2015, in Washington. — GETTY/Kris Connor

US House lawmakers took turns Feb. 2 slamming the United Nations for its perceived bias against Israel as they made clear the world body will not survive President Donald Trump's presidency unscathed.

A joint hearing by two House Foreign Affairs panels revealed sharp disagreements on the best way forward, from minor reforms to complete defunding. But it also demonstrated a broad bipartisan conviction that Israel has been getting a raw deal for too long.