UNRWA - A Political Organization

A new English-language play is touring Israel, titled "Building Understanding: Epitaph for a Dead Warehouse." The show combines video clips with a one-man performance by Chris Gunness, who plays the part of a UN warehouse in Gaza described as "the victim of an excruciatingly painful fire that burned me down," due to the IDF using illegal white phosphorous to bomb the building. The videos show the bombing, as well as interviews with the warehouse staff, complaining of being doused by a bomb that "looks like phosphorus, it smells like phosphorus and it burns like phosphorus."

An IDF probe found minimal quantities of phosphorus material, which came from smoke rather than weapons, within the limits of international law. In an interview with Israel National News, Gunness said he had no way to confirm that the shells had, in fact, been fired by IDF soldiers, although his one-man show places the blame squarely on the IDF's shoulders.

Who is Chris Gunness? Who would take out the time, effort and resources to perform such a series of falsehoods, besmirching the reputation of Israel's military (as seems to be de rigeur these days)?

Of course, Chris Gunness is a UN worker.

Gunness, however, is not just any UN worker – he is the head spokesperson for UNRWA. Yes, the same UNRWA that describes itself as having been established "to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees" and "the main provider of basic services – education, health, relief and social services – to…registered Palestine refugees in the Middle East."

The provider of social services to Palestinian refugees proudly displayed an article from McClatchy Newspapers praising Gunness's performance, on its website. This is an interesting strategy, considering that nowhere in its mandate or mission statements is UNRWA given the role of taking political positions and disseminating them; the agency seems to have taken it upon itself to slander Israel.

It's hard to imagine how the Palestinian refugee problem can be solved, while it's in the care of UNRWA. Time and again, this agency shows that it is incapable of handling its mandate and serves values opposite of those of the countries that fund UNRWA. Not only are the vast majority of the agency's workers also recipients of UNRWA's services, which in all other UN agencies is consider a conflict of interest, the agency has also employed members of Hamas and other terrorist groups. The textbooks in UNRWA schools feature inflammatory and incorrect information about the United States and Israel, deny the holocaust, and glorify terror. In this way, UNRWA has served as a conduit for terror since Arafat made refugees the symbol of the Palestinian Nationalist struggle in the 1960s, perpetuating the Israel-Arab conflict rather than helping to assuage it.

Recently, Congressmen like Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ) have proposed the UNRWA Accountability Bill, demanding transparency and responsibility from UNRWA. United States donations to UNRWA in 2009 reached $154.5 million by early October, and may increase before the year's end. The bill seeks to ensure that money sent to UNRWA from the United States does not fund terror, and emphasizes the need to evaluate the curricula in UNRWA schools.

While Kirk and Rothman's actions are praiseworthy, they are not enough. As Middle East analyst Asaf Romirowsky has pointed out, UNRWA works in a way that is opposite of other humanitarian operations and refugee relief agencies, such as the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR). UNHCR encourages resettlement, avoiding political stances and putting refugees in danger, whereas UNRWA favors the "right of return," thus blocking resettlement, takes clear political positions, and is connected to terrorist groups. In 2005, UNHCR served 19.2 refugees and asylum seekers in 116 countries with a budget of $992 million and a staff of 6,450. In the same year, UNRWA had a staff of 24,300 and a $339 million budget for only 4.1 million refugees in only five areas.

Refugees may benefit from UNRWA's services to some extent, but the organization itself seems to benefit much more from the refugees. Without refugees, UNRWA would no longer exist; therefore, UNRWA has no motivation to solve the refugee problem. Clearly, the way to solve the refugee problem is to dismantle UNRWA, and replace it with an organization that can look forward and find solutions, rather than focus on politics and encourage terror.

Sources: http://www.rightsidenews.com/200910196906/global-terrorism/blocking-unrwas-terror-ties.html

http://www.romirowsky.com/6426/unrwa-accountability-bill

http://www.un.org/unrwa/

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134090

Links Roundup: The Palestinian Refugee Situation

Here is a selection of interesting links we've collected over the past two weeks on URWA and the Palestinian refugees:

• Canada: Revive Refugee Committee - Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon told Israeli President Shimon Peres that he seeks to revive the 1991 multilateral committee to resolve the refugee problem.
• No Way Home: The Tragedy of the Palestinian Diaspora - Judith Miller and David Samuels retell how the Arab countries abandoned their Palestinian brothers, causing and perpetuating the humanitarian tragedy that is the Palestinian refugee issue.
• Blocking UNRWA's Terror Ties - An interview with Middle East analyst Asaf Romirowsky on the UNRWA and its ties to terror.
• No to Even-Handedness - Israel Correspondent Stephen Kramer points out the UN's favoritism towards the Palestinians.

Netanyahu's "Optimism"

At a Likud party meeting two days ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau said he optimistic about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. One has to wonder: What does he mean by "optimistic?" Does this optimism mean that Netanyahu thinks there will be progress in the peace process, or does he think the opposite: that the process, which is useless to begin with, will fall apart soon.

This cynicism comes from a very problematic fact, that the PM has promoted a policy that he himself does not believe in. Rather than finding a true alternative to "two states for two nations," Netanyahu prefers a policy of minimizing damages by using the failed equation that has practically become Obama's slogan, while demanding preconditions that contradict the entire process.

Recognizing the State of Israel as a Jewish state, along with any recognition of the justness of Zionism, contradicts the logic behind a two-state solution. The Palestinian narrative, which sees the Arabs living in Israel as a separate nation, was created in the 1960s as a way to de-legitimize Zionism. If Zionism is not a crime, then the Palestinians are simply Arabs, some of whom left Israel when the state was formed in 1948. This is a simple humanitarian problem that could have been solved 50 years ago and can be solved now, especially when considering myriad Arab states in the world.

The creation of a Palestinian State is impossible. It has no geopolitical, military or economic logic behind it. It is a failed formula that the world has not let go because of Palestinian propaganda and the lack of an alternative solution. Rather than show optimism about a process that he doesn't believe in, Prime Minister Netanyahu would be better off if he thought outside of the box and adopted a new plan. This plan would offer peace in the simplest terms: prosperity, security and rights for all, without paying lip service to the Palestinian national narrative, whose contribution to recent history has only been frustration and bloodshed.

In Honor of Sukkot - A Universal Solution

The holiday of Sukkot, while a Jewish festival, is also a universal festival. In the book of Zechariah it is mentioned that kings of the nations will come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot. In the Talmud it mentions that on Sukkot 70 sacrifices are brought for the seventy nations of the world.

The message of the Israeli Initiative, while outwardly focusing only on Israel, encompasses an important universal message. The Palestinian- Israeli conflict is based on the hatred of Arab leaders towards the Jewish people and State of Israel. This animosity was what brought Arab leaders to call for their own people to become refugees, with the knowledge that if they don’t win the war, these refugees will be the way to continually delegitimize the Jewish people and State of Israel.

The refugee problem has remained a humanitarian catastrophe and evolved into a national movement which refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, thus rejecting Israel. This refugee crisis has swallowed up billions of dollars, which are annually contributed to the perpetuation of the refugee problem by undiscerning Western nations who feel that they are only aiding helpless people. Yet, those responsible for the humanitarian crisis barely contribute to their displaced brothers.

This refugee crisis has brought up millions of Palestinians on dependence, irresponsibility, and with no hope of ever leading normal lives.
This refugee crisis led to the forming of UNRWA, which, despite providing humanitarian relief, has itself become a political Palestinian movement. Only yesterday, the head of UNRWA Karen Abu Zayd, warned of a third intifada if Palestinians aren’t allowed to pray in the Al-Aqsa mosque, thus becoming a voice for Palestinian terrorism. Furthermore, the organization takes care of the Palestinian social needs, giving Palestinian leaders the ability to act with carelessness and lack of responsibility to their own people.

Solving the refugee issue, which is the key to solving the Palestinian problem, is one our main goals, but the refugee problem isn’t something that is only connected to Israel, it is universal. When the refugee problem is solved, billions of dollars will be freed up to focus on the remaining refugees around the world. The Palestinians have the ability to become productive members of many of the world’s societies that are in need of them. There are countries in Europe who need jobs to be filled by people. Canada has an aging workforce and is need of all types of workers. One Australian state reported gains of three billion dollars because of immigration to their country. The OECD has said that immigration is economically a positive thing for countries.

There is something more to the refugee issue beyond economic benefits. Those who are adamant in keeping the Palestinians in their refugee status are essentially continuing the hatred that was planted sixty years ago, and are now reaping fruits. Those trying to rehabilitate the refugees are the real champions of peace. Once the refugees are rehabilitated the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will be reduced to normal dimensions. This is the reason why Arab nations can never accept the Palestinians as permanent residents in their host countries.

-Gideon

"Moderates" Support Rock-Throwing

A few days ago, I blogged about the lack of a Palestinian partner for peace, using Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad's positon paper to show the absurdity of calling him a moderate. With the riots on Yom Kippur Eve, we learn once again that the phrase "Palestinian moderate," is, in fact, an oxymoron.

When French tourists visited the Temple Mount on the eve of the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Arabs in the area mistook them for praying Jews, and began throwing rocks at them. Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount is totally legal, and even if someone is offended by it, rock-throwing is a pretty extreme response, right?

Let's ask some "moderates" what they think.

Reuters reported that the Palestinian government, our "partner for peace" released the following statement:

"The cabinet ... hailed our people who rushed yesterday to defend blessed al-Aqsa mosque and thwarted the attempt by extremist settlers to break into the compound."

Fayad's government also "condemned the storming by Israeli police and special forces of the mosque compound and their assault on worshippers."

"A Third Intifada may erupt...in reaction to the Israeli disrespect of the feelings of Muslims and the storming by extreme Jewish groups of the al-Aqsa mosque."

These are the words of another "moderate," Mohammad Dahlan of the Fatah party. Do you get the feeling he knows something we don't know?

It really is no wonder that the conflict has yet to be solved, when these are the people we're negotiating with.

See the Israeli Initiative's idea for an alternative partner for peace.

(Source: Reuters)

If This What A Moderate Looks Like, Clearly There Is No Palestinian Partner For Peace

Through a miraculous PR coup, Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayad has been labeled a "moderate voice of leadership" for a Palestinian state, after distributing a position paper entitled "Ending the Occupation, Establishing the State: Program of the Thirteenth Government - August 2009" to the UN, EU and American and Russian governments. In an article for Philadelphia newspaper "The Bulletin," David Bedein shows how immoderate Fayad really is.

The paper, which has been promoted by the Geneva Accord's website, has an abstract that calls for "peace, security and stability in our region on the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital." As Bedein points out, it seems that no one bothered reading past the first page.

Throughout the position paper, Fayad refers to Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state, not East Jerusalem. He accuses Israel, "the occupying authority," of "implementing a systematic plan…and eradicating [Jerusalem's] Arab Palestinian heritage." His plan includes returning all refugees and their descendants to their pre-1948 homes according to UN General Assembly Resolution 194. He also demands the release of Palestinians convicted of murder or attempted murder from Israeli prisons, because Fayad seems to think that jailing Palestinians who committed capital crimes is a "violation of international law and basic human rights."

If this is the "moderate voice of leadership" amongst Palestinians, it is clear that there is no Palestinian partner for peace. It is impossible to negotiate with a group that supports murderers and denies the legitimacy of Israel's capital. For this reason and many others, the Palestinian Authority is an obstacle to peace and a danger to the entire region. Therefore, an alternative partner must be found: Jordan.

The Israeli Initiative favors strategic cooperation with the Kingdom of Jordan as the sole representative of the Palestinians. Should Jordan grant citizenship to the Palestinians of Judea and Samaria, the Palestinian Authority could be disarmed and would no longer be recognized as a representative body. With Jordanian citizens in Judea and Samaria, the refugees would no longer be refugees, Iranian influence on the Palestinians would be diminished, and regional stability would be increased.

For more information on the Israeli Initiative and cooperation with Jordan, click here.

For Bedein's article, click here.

For Salam Fayad's position paper, click here

UN General Assembly Celebrates 60 Years of UNRWA's Lack of Acheivements

Agency Has Perpetuated Palestinian "Refugeehood" For Sixty Years

This week's United Nations General Assembly has been marked by a week-long commemoration of 60 years of "achievements and service" by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). At a press conference in New York, Karen Koning Abu-Zayd, Commisioner-General of UNRWA, declared that the commemoration was a tribute to the refugees themselves, who thrived "despite being refugees for such a long time and under occupation for 40 of those 60 years." She also emphasized the importance of aiding refugee youth.

It is hard to understand what achievements UNRWA has had that are worth celebrating. Although the agency provides services such as food and education to Palestinian refugees, it has helped cause stagnation and complacency with their current status. While all other refugees, treated by UNHCR, the United Nations High Commisioner for Refugees, are resettled within two years, Palestinian refugees have remained in camps for 60 years, without help in rehabilitation from UNRWA.

"Western countries, which have sought to help the Palestinians, have, over the course of six decades, donated millions to UNRWA – an agency that has not rehabilitated even one refugee, and never will," emphasized former Israeli cabinet minister Benny Elon, founder of The Israeli Initiative. "UNRWA does not serve the Palestinian population; rather, it serves the Palestinian national narrative, and thus eternalizes the conflict, offering the refugees war and blood instead of welfare and life. The time has come to stop the cash flow to UNRWA and once and for all, with a just solution, deal with the refugee problem. Transferring the refugees to UNHCR's care, after 60 years under UNRWA, would be such a solution."

According to Israeli Initiative researcher Gideon Israel, "Sources working in the refugee camps have reported that 90% of the refugees in Gaza would like to emigrate to Western countries, and there are similar statistics for other Palestinian refugees. Contrary to the myth that no states are willing to accept refugees, there are actually many that would absorb Palestinian refugees, such as Canada or Chile. In fact, Palestinian refugees in Iraq were recently relocated to Iceland, Slovakia, Norway and the United States. However, these refugees were under UNHCR's care, not UNRWA. "

Although Abu-Zayd claimed that her greatest wish is to see the end of Palestinian refugeehood, UNRWA's actions speak louder than their words, and those actions say that UNRWA plays no part in rehabilitating refugees. Millions of Palestinians under UNRWA's care are sentenced to remain refugees forever – that is, as long as the State of Israel exists.

There is also an issue with Abu-Zayd's emphasis of the so-called occupation. The majority of Palestinian refugees are not in Israel, therefore the claim that most have been under occupation for 40 years is wrong. Israel cannot be blamed for the refugee situation, when there are many options that are not being sought for the Palestinian refugees, such as the ten countries which have agreed to participate in the UNHCR's refugee absorption program.