Israel outlaws UNWRA, bucking international pressure

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-826525

Posted by DroneMaster2000

7 comments
  1. Most companies or executives get axed after 9 to 18 months for failed performance…imagine 75 years of failed performance!

  2. SS: The Knesset passed two bills to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel-controlled areas, citing its alleged role in perpetuating the Palestinian refugee issue and involvement in terror activities.

    MK Yuli Edelstein argued UNRWA supports terrorism and dependency, claiming its end will help resolve the conflict. The bills terminate UNRWA’s 1967 treaty with Israel, bar government contact with the agency, and mandate criminal proceedings against UNRWA employees linked to terrorism.

    Some limited context:

    [Askar – UNRWA: Cradle of Killers](https://vimeo.com/856467890)

    [Another UNRWA Teacher in Gaza Held an Israeli in Captivity for Hamas
    ](https://www.jewishpress.com/news/global/un/another-unrwa-teacher-in-gaza-held-an-israeli-in-captivity-for-hamas/2024/01/28/)

    [IDF uncovers top secret Hamas data center right under UNRWA’s Gaza Strip HQ](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-uncovers-top-secret-hamas-data-center-right-under-unrwas-gaza-strip-hq/)

    [Terror Tunnel Discovered Under UNRWA Schools as Hamas Continues Military Buildup](https://www.thetower.org/5069-terror-tunnel-discovered-under-unrwa-schools-as-hamas-continues-military-buildup/)

    [IDF says it killed Hamas terrorist who led massacre at Re’im shelter – an UNRWA worker](https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-it-killed-hamas-man-who-led-massacre-at-reim-shelter-an-unrwa-worker/)

    [The UNRWA Refugee Controversy Explained](https://honestreporting.com/unrwa-refugees-explained/)

  3. Well they’ve massively failed and been linked to various terrorists, so no surprises really.

  4. Long time coming when you consider these factors: 

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/unrwa-confirms-hamas-nukhba-force-commander-killed-in-idf-strike-was-a-staff-member/ 

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/unrwa-chief-says-he-did-not-know-suspended-employee-was-hamass-leader-in-lebanon/ 

    https://unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/United-Nations-Watch-Submission-to-UNRWA-Review-Group.pdf

    The last link is a UN Watch report which includes a comprehensive list of antisemitic statements and incitement from various UNRWA teachers including one’s who praised Hitler. 

  5. It’s been obvious for decades that UNWRA need to go. But it’s equally obvious that they can’t be removed overnight. They functionally sustain the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza – food, healthcare, education, infrastructure. In many ways they do the job that the elected governments of the areas are supposed to. Ending that overnight would cause immediate and intolerable hardship to millions.

  6. I think it’s valuable in threads like this to understand the difference between how UNRWA defines refugees vs. how UNHCR does.

    **UNRWA** classifies as refugees Palestinians who were displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, along with *all their descendants*. Unlike most other refugee definitions, UNRWA does not have a mechanism to end refugee status through naturalization or integration; instead, refugee status persists until there’s a “durable political solution.”

    **UNHCR**, in contrast, defines a refugee as someone outside their home country with a well-founded fear of persecution due to factors like race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. Its goal is to reduce refugee numbers by finding “durable solutions,” such as citizenship in the host country, resettlement, or safe return. Refugee status under UNHCR does not automatically transfer to descendants unless they meet specific criteria based on the 1951 Refugee Convention’s definition.

    These differing goals make UNRWA a unique and politically charged organization. Its existence is reliant on the continuation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike UNHCR, UNRWA is deeply embedded in Palestinian society; most of its staff are Palestinian, and it administers core services like education, healthcare, and social support. This has led to UNRWA doing controversial stuff such as providing educational materials that foster anti-Israel sentiments and refusing to teach the holocaust. In addition, it led it to be deeply integrated with Hamas, and have a many of its members be active combatants.

    I think that the right thing to do would be to split UNRWA into two parts:

    1. UNHCR could take over refugee status determination, protection, and advocacy.
    2. A Palestinian-run organization could manage essential social services like education and healthcare, and supporting daily life.

    This way, all the essential services that impact Palestinian daily life—education, healthcare, and social support—would be managed by a Palestinian organization focused on community development rather than by an agency whose primary mandate is refugee support. UNHCR could then focus on refugee protection, resettlement, and the eventual resolution of refugee status, ensuring that Palestinians seeking a path toward citizenship, integration, or resettlement are supported under UNHCR’s established framework (e.g. Palestinian living in Lebanon while Lebanon is refusing to provide them citizenship, who are neglected right now).

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