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Dear readers,
We know we've been slacking in our blog posts lately, but now we're back with a bang! It looks like someone in Canada has been reading The Israeli Initiative's booklet on refugees, since the Canadian Treasure has pulled money out of UNRWA. Here's a release we sent out to the foreign press:
PRESS RELEASE: ISRAELI THINK TANK PRAISES CANADA'S WORK TOWARDS PEACE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT REALLOCATES UNRWA FUNDS, AS RECOMMENDED BY "THE ISRAELI INITIATVE"
Recently, it was reported that Canada, which until now provided UNRWA (the agency dedicated to providing services to Palestinian refugees) with 11% of its budget, has reallocated some of its usual donation from UNRWA to the Palestinian Authority justice system.
Victor Toews, president of Canada's Treasury Board told the Jerusalem Post that this move will help "ensure accountability and foster democracy," as well as make sure that government funds will only go to "programs that are consistent with Canadian values."
The Israeli Initiative, a Jerusalem-based think tank, commends Canada's bravery in going against the UNRWA-supporting herd.
"Canada is setting an example for the nations of the world," said Lahav Harkov, spokesperson for The Israeli Initiative. "The Canadian Treasury Board is right in saying that UNRWA programs are inconsistent with its values; in fact, UNRWA is run in a way that contradicts many countries' values. For example, the agency UNRWA employs members of terrorist groups, as former Commissioner-General Peter Hansen has admitted. Despite this, many nations send millions of dollars each year to UNRWA."
"Many UNRWA camps are essentially run by Hamas, a terrorist group voted in by the refugees to manage URNWA activites," explained Yoav Sorek, manager of the Israeli Initiative. "Hamas inserts inflammatory material against the West and Israel into the curricula of UNRWA schools, and is even thought to have shot missiles from UNRWA schools in Gaza. It seems that Canada has finally taken a stand against this injustice "
While The Israeli Initiative does not agree with supporting the Palestinian Authority, it sees dismantling UNRWA as the first step towards a lasting, stable peace in the region. "UNRWA does not have a mandate to resettle refugees, which is the real way to solve any refugee problem," said Sorek. "Once a different, more effective agency takes care of the Palestinian refugees, it will be easier to work towards peace. Canada has done the morally correct thing in cutting its donations to UNRWA."
For more information: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1263147877187&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
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