In the voting held in the Israeli Parliament, important decisions were made regarding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The Parliament approved a bill banning UNRWA’s work in Israel with 58 votes. In addition, another bill lifting the immunity of UNRWA employees was approved with 63 votes. Thirdly, a bill calling for UNRWA to be declared a “terrorist organization” was passed with 50 votes.
Statements Made
There have been reactions from different segments of society to these decisions taken by the Israeli Parliament. Yulia Malinovsky, a member of parliament from the opposition Yisrael Beytenu Party, stated on her social media account that she supports the decisions. The Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, Hussein al-Sheikh, evaluated Israel’s decision as a step against international law. The Fatah Movement also stated in a written statement that the decision is an attempt to ignore the rights of the Palestinian people.
UNRWA and Israel Relations
UNRWA has been a major humanitarian agency providing assistance to Palestinian refugees since 1950. UNRWA currently provides support to 5.9 million Palestinian refugees and its activities have been frequently obstructed by Israel. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an urgent investigation into Israeli authorities’ accusation against UNRWA personnel.
| Establishment of UNRWA | Israel’s Claims | UN’s Response |
|---|---|---|
| Founded in 1950, UNRWA provides assistance to Palestinian refugees. | Israel declares UNRWA a terrorist organization and demands that relations be cut off. | The United Nations opposes these demands of Israel and supports UNRWA. |
