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Rethinking UNRWA: Charting a New Course for Palestinian Aid

 

In the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the debate surrounding the effectiveness and integrity of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has reached a crescendo. The recent revelations of UNRWA workers' involvement in the October 7 attacks have reignited calls for a fundamental reassessment of the agency's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

 

Established in 1949 to provide aid to Palestinian refugees in the wake of Israel's independence, UNRWA has faced mounting criticism over the years. While its initial mandate was noble—to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian refugees and facilitate their eventual resettlement—UNRWA's approach has been fraught with controversy and inefficacy.

 

One of the primary criticisms leveled against UNRWA is its expansive definition of refugee status, which includes not only those displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict but also their descendants. This perpetual refugee status, unique among global refugee crises, has led to a ballooning refugee population that shows no signs of abating. From the initial 700,000 refugees in 1948, the number has now swelled to 5.9 million, exacerbating the cycle of dependency and perpetuating a sense of victimhood among Palestinians.

 

Moreover, UNRWA's mandate has evolved beyond humanitarian aid to encompass education, with the agency operating hundreds of schools across the region. While education is undoubtedly crucial for the empowerment and development of refugee communities, UNRWA's curriculum has come under scrutiny for promoting anti-Israeli sentiment and perpetuating the narrative of Palestinian victimhood. Textbooks used in UNRWA schools have been found to delegitimize Israel's right to exist and propagate narratives of martyrdom and armed resistance, further fueling tensions in the region.

 

The revelations of UNRWA employees' complicity in terrorist activities have further tarnished the agency's reputation. Reports of UNRWA staff members participating in Hamas-led attacks and providing logistical support to terrorist groups have raised serious concerns about the agency's accountability and neutrality. The IDF's disclosure of a Hamas command center located beneath UNRWA's Gaza headquarters has cast doubt on UNRWA's claims of impartiality and independence.

 

In light of these revelations, the need for a comprehensive reassessment of UNRWA's mandate and operations has never been more pressing. While the agency has undoubtedly provided vital assistance to Palestinian refugees over the years, its role in perpetuating the conflict and exacerbating tensions cannot be overlooked.

 

It is time for the international community to consider alternative approaches to Palestinian aid that prioritize accountability, transparency, and effectiveness. This may involve transitioning UNRWA's responsibilities to other humanitarian organizations or restructuring the agency to ensure greater oversight and accountability.

 

Furthermore, regional stakeholders, including Arab nations and the Palestinian Authority, must take greater responsibility for the welfare and development of Palestinian refugees. Instead of relying solely on external aid organizations, these stakeholders should work towards long-term solutions that address the root causes of displacement and promote sustainable development in Palestinian communities.

 

While the path forward may be fraught with challenges, the current impasse presents an opportunity to rethink the humanitarian paradigm in the Israeli-Palestinian context. By reassessing UNRWA's role and exploring alternative approaches to Palestinian aid, the international community can pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable future for all stakeholders involved.

 

12.03.24

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Posted

More pro-Israel rubbish,

 

Aviva Klompas is the former director of speechwriting at the Israeli Mission to the United Nations and co-founder of Boundless Israel, a nonprofit organization that partners with community leaders in the U.S. to support Israel education and combat hatred of Jews.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.

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Posted
1 minute ago, Jeff the Chef said:

More pro-Israel rubbish,

 

Aviva Klompas is the former director of speechwriting at the Israeli Mission to the United Nations and co-founder of Boundless Israel, a nonprofit organization that partners with community leaders in the U.S. to support Israel education and combat hatred of Jews.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.

Why is anything from an Israel writer rubbish? 

 

The article clearly says "opinion" so well done for identifying what was there already

  • Like 2
Posted
4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Why is anything from an Israel writer rubbish? 

 

The article clearly says "opinion" so well done for identifying what was there already

 

Israel just wants UNRWA to go away, hoping that that will undermine the whole claim of Palestinians having a right to return.

 

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2024/03/06/gaza-depth-why-israel-wants-end-unrwa-and-what-its-closure-would-mean

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Posted
2 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Rubbish they want them replaced by the UN’s World Food Programme among others. See link above

 

 

Opinion piece, already commented on.

 

Today, around 5.9 million people are eligible for UNRWA’s services, and the agency operates in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. What was supposed to be a temporary humanitarian programme has grown into a massive service provider that would be politically explosive and logistically difficult – if not impossible – to replace.

“UNRWA is a temporary organisation which unfortunately has now lasted for 75 years. And these 75 years are nothing else than the expression of the international community's failure to have promoted a fair and lasting political solution [to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict],” Lazzarini told The New Humanitarian.

 

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2024/03/06/gaza-depth-why-israel-wants-end-unrwa-and-what-its-closure-would-mean

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Posted
2 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Opinion piece, already commented on.

 

Today, around 5.9 million people are eligible for UNRWA’s services, and the agency operates in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. What was supposed to be a temporary humanitarian programme has grown into a massive service provider that would be politically explosive and logistically difficult – if not impossible – to replace.

“UNRWA is a temporary organisation which unfortunately has now lasted for 75 years. And these 75 years are nothing else than the expression of the international community's failure to have promoted a fair and lasting political solution [to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict],” Lazzarini told The New Humanitarian.

 

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2024/03/06/gaza-depth-why-israel-wants-end-unrwa-and-what-its-closure-would-mean

 

You missed this:

 

4 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

 

 

IDF seeking to force UNRWA dissolution in Gaza, to be replaced by alternative

Israel working with other bodies in the Palestinian enclave, including the UN’s World Food Programme, to find viable replacements for the agency accused of consorting with Hamas. 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-seeking-to-force-unrwa-dissolution-in-gaza-to-be-replaced-by-alternative/

 

Posted
11 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

Israel just wants UNRWA to go away, hoping that that will undermine the whole claim of Palestinians having a right to return.

 

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2024/03/06/gaza-depth-why-israel-wants-end-unrwa-and-what-its-closure-would-mean

 

  As UNRWA supports the abolition of Israel, you can understand Israel wanting UNRWA dissolved and replaced to a more neutral group who support peace, rather than ar 

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Posted

This from 2011 (Council on Foreign Relations), advancing peace in Gaza and the West Bank, a pity they did not carry this through then...................

 

Note it was well known to be infiltrated by Hamas terrorists even then

 

Ending UNRWA and Advancing Peace

It is worth noting that there are many other criticisms of UNRWA: that it overlooks terrorist group activity in some camps, or allows members of Hamas and other terrorist groups to hold UNRWA staff positions. But those are criticisms of how UNRWA is carrying out its mission, while the deeper problem is the mission itself. That mission might accurately be described as enlarging the Palestinian refugee problem forever and thereby making any Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement tremendously more difficult if not impossible to achieve.

Closing UNRWA would in the end be a great favor to Palestinians who live outside the West Bank and Gaza, assuming that the needed services it provides them could be provided by other agencies or the governments of the countries in which they live.

https://www.cfr.org/blog/ending-unrwa-and-advancing-peace

 

Posted
16 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

This from 2011 (Council on Foreign Relations), advancing piece in Gaza and the West Bank, a pity they did not carry this through then...................

 

Note it was well known to be infiltrated by Hamas terrorists even then

 

Ending UNRWA and Advancing Peace

It is worth noting that there are many other criticisms of UNRWA: that it overlooks terrorist group activity in some camps, or allows members of Hamas and other terrorist groups to hold UNRWA staff positions. But those are criticisms of how UNRWA is carrying out its mission, while the deeper problem is the mission itself. That mission might accurately be described as enlarging the Palestinian refugee problem forever and thereby making any Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement tremendously more difficult if not impossible to achieve.

Closing UNRWA would in the end be a great favor to Palestinians who live outside the West Bank and Gaza, assuming that the needed services it provides them could be provided by other agencies or the governments of the countries in which they live.

https://www.cfr.org/blog/ending-unrwa-and-advancing-peace

 

 

More history from 2011, the only reason Israel wants rid of UNRWA is:

 

Israel just wants UNRWA to go away, hoping that that will undermine the whole claim of Palestinians having a right to return.

Posted
3 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

More history from 2011, the only reason Israel wants rid of UNRWA is:

 

Israel just wants UNRWA to go away, hoping that that will undermine the whole claim of Palestinians having a right to return.

It was in 2011 when many of those terrorists were being taught in UNRWA schools. Rinse and repeat eh. Just what Hamas wants. More attacks again and again.

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Posted
Just now, Bkk Brian said:

It was in 2011 when many of those terrorists were being taught in UNRWA schools. Rinse and repeat eh. Just what Hamas wants. More attacks again and again.

 

Israel is an occupying force, controlling all aspects of Palestinian life in Gaza, Hamas are the duly elected government whose military are currently fighting the Israeli forces, perhaps both sides need to negotiate a peace agreement or this can carry on ad infinitum.

Posted
1 minute ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

Israel is an occupying force, controlling all aspects of Palestinian life in Gaza, Hamas are the duly elected government whose military are currently fighting the Israeli forces, perhaps both sides need to negotiate a peace agreement or this can carry on ad infinitum.

When you have nothing, deflect from the topic

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Posted
6 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

When you have nothing, deflect from the topic

 

It's an opinion piece, if you don't want to see alternative opinions, don't post.

Posted
3 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

It's an opinion piece, if you don't want to see alternative opinions, don't post.

and another deflection from the realities of UNWRA. 

 

22 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

It was in 2011 when many of those terrorists were being taught in UNRWA schools. Rinse and repeat eh. Just what Hamas wants. More attacks again and again.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

and another deflection from the realities of UNWRA. 

 

 

 

There would be no need for UNWRA if Israel returned to their correct borders and left the Palestinian/Arabs to return to their own lands.

Posted
Just now, Jeff the Chef said:

 

There would be no need for UNWRA if Israel returned to their correct borders and left the Palestinian/Arabs to return to their own lands.

Deflection to the realities of the ongoing situation. 

Posted
1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  As UNRWA supports the abolition of Israel, you can understand Israel wanting UNRWA dissolved and replaced to a more neutral group who support peace, rather than ar 

 

Of course you have links to confirm your allegation that UNWRA supports the abolition of Israel?

Posted
4 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Really, so you have no answers, lol

Yes I have, I did not supply links with solutions for nothing. Still laughing? Or go back and actually read the solutions?

Posted
46 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

Of course you have links to confirm your allegation that UNWRA supports the abolition of Israel?

 

   There's a link here 

 

 

"Israel just wants UNRWA to go away, hoping that that will undermine the whole claim of Palestinians having a right to return."

 

 

 

 

Posted
1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   There's a link here 

 

 

"Israel just wants UNRWA to go away, hoping that that will undermine the whole claim of Palestinians having a right to return."

 

 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  As UNRWA supports the abolition of Israel, you can understand Israel wanting UNRWA dissolved and replaced to a more neutral group who support peace, rather than ar 

 

So you can say UNWRA supports the abolition of Israel, with no proof.

Posted
1 minute ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

 

So you can say UNWRA supports the abolition of Israel, with no proof.

 

   You said that UNRWA supports Palestinians  right to return  to live on Israeli land . 

That would mean the end of Israel as a Country 

Posted
2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Yes I have, I did not supply links with solutions for nothing. Still laughing? Or go back and actually read the solutions?

 

Read and duly ignored, because that would end the Right of Return:

The agency collectively recognises Palestinians who were displaced to Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan as refugees entitled to education, healthcare and other services until they can exercise their right to return to their land as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.

Posted
10 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   You said that UNRWA supports Palestinians  right to return  to live on Israeli land . 

That would mean the end of Israel as a Country 

 

That is not what you said in the beginning of this conversation, is it?

 

 

YOUR words, "As UNRWA supports the abolition of Israel, you can understand Israel wanting UNRWA dissolved and replaced to a more neutral group who support peace, rather than ar" 

Posted
1 minute ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

Read and duly ignored, because that would end the Right of Return:

The agency collectively recognises Palestinians who were displaced to Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan as refugees entitled to education, healthcare and other services until they can exercise their right to return to their land as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.

Who cares if you ignore it. Having UNHCR as one of the replacements along with the UN’s World Food Programme is a far more credible than the previous terrorist employers. 

Posted
3 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

That is not what you said in the beginning of this conversation, is it?

 

 

YOUR words, "As UNRWA supports the abolition of Israel, you can understand Israel wanting UNRWA dissolved and replaced to a more neutral group who support peace, rather than ar" 

 

   You told me that UNRWA supports Palestinian  right to return to Israel , that would lead to the end of Israel .

   Are you know saying that UNRWA do not support the right to return ?

Posted
10 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   You told me that UNRWA supports Palestinian  right to return to Israel , that would lead to the end of Israel .

   Are you know saying that UNRWA do not support the right to return ?

You wrote, and I quote: "As UNRWA supports the abolition of Israel" 

I asked you for proof/link of this statement, which you have not supplied.

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