UN Security Council warns Israel against UNRWA ban
The UN Security Council, including the United States, warned Israel on Wednesday October 9 against passing a law that would ban the agency for the Palestinians, UNRWA, the day after the same warning was issued. by United Nations chief Antonio Guterres.
Relations between the UN and Israel are historically difficult, and have been atrocious for a year with Secretary General Guterres declaring « persona non grata » by the Hebrew State.
Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, Israel has accused the UN agency for Palestinian refugees of using “terrorists”.
During a Security Council meeting devoted to the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave, American Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in a rare move, warned that she was following “with great concern the proposed Israeli law which could modify the legal status of UNRWA”.
She pointed out the risk of undermining the ” ability [de l’agence] to communicate with Israeli officials and to remove diplomatic privileges and immunities enjoyed by UN organizations and employees across the planet”.
The American diplomat was reacting to a draft of two bills approved Sunday by the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, which aim to put an end to the activity and status of UNRWA in the Palestinian territories.
Algeria, a non-permanent member of the Council which convened this meeting, recalled that “for years, the Israeli authorities have clearly expressed their desire and desire to dismantle UNRWA”.
This agency (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) was created by the General Assembly in 1949, shortly after the birth of the State. of Israel.
UNRWA operates health centers and schools in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, among others, and is considered “the spine” international humanitarian aid to Gaza. She “is the symbol of Palestinian refugees and their inviolable rights”thundered the Algerian ambassador Amar Bendjama.
The warning to Israel was unanimous among the fifteen permanent and non-permanent members of the Council.
On Tuesday, Mr. Guterres announced to the press that he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in writing of the « catastrophe » humanitarian situation that a law banning UNRWA would provoke, « indispensable » et “irreplaceable”.
Related News :