The US Set to Clash With Israel Over UNRWA

In what appears to be a direct clash with the Israeli Knesset, the US government does not regard UNRWA as a “terrorism organization.”

US State Department spokesman Mathew Miller said, Wednesday “UNRWA is not a terrorist organization, and we urge the Israeli government and the Knesset to halt the movement of this legislation.”

Miller was responding to the fact that the Israeli parliament, last Monday, introduced a draft bill, in its first reading, designating UNRWA as a terrorism organization and that Israel is set to cut relations with this UN body.

“We have been clear about the important role that UNRWA plays in delivering humanitarian assistance and other critical assistance to Palestinians in Gaza – and throughout the region, not just in Gaza…the United States provides the majority of its funding for – a majority of the funding for humanitarian efforts in Gaza through the UN. We expect to continue to do so…” he added.

“…the attacks that the Israeli Government has leveled on UNRWA are incredibly unhelpful. They do nothing to advance the cause of getting humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. So we’re going to continue to support the work that UNRWA does in the region, while also recognizing the need for reform…” he maintained.

The UN organization employs 30,000 employs working to serve 5.9 Palestinians in the region. Israel is accusing the organization of employing more than 400 terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

As a result the USA suspended its financial contribution to the agency after the Israeli accusations which were not proven by Israel.

Since then, US law has prohibited Washington from releasing funds to the agency, while several countries have resumed their contributions to the agency, including the UK, Germany, EU, Sweden, Japan, and France.