10 sept 2018
The government of Malaysia announced on Monday the launch of a national fundraising campaign to support Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The campaign aims to mobilize resources for UNRWA, since the agency currently faces a financial crisis after the United States Trump administration’s decision, to end all funds to the agency.
The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Wan Azizah spoke at the campaign launch event in Kuala Lumpur and said "The recent funding cuts to UNRWA undermine the education, healthcare and other life-saving services to vulnerable Palestine refugees."
She called on all Malaysians to “Join this effort. No matter how small, your contribution can make a big difference to people who have nothing."
Azizah stressed that the Malaysian government is determined to ensure that Palestinian refugees receive the support and solidarity they deserve.
Many of the attendees expressed their solidarity with Palestine and Palestinian refugees, and have vowed to contribute to the national fundraising campaign, which will continue for a month.
It is noteworthy that for decades, Malaysia has been a consistent supporter of UNRWA, both in financial and political matters.
The campaign aims to mobilize resources for UNRWA, since the agency currently faces a financial crisis after the United States Trump administration’s decision, to end all funds to the agency.
The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Wan Azizah spoke at the campaign launch event in Kuala Lumpur and said "The recent funding cuts to UNRWA undermine the education, healthcare and other life-saving services to vulnerable Palestine refugees."
She called on all Malaysians to “Join this effort. No matter how small, your contribution can make a big difference to people who have nothing."
Azizah stressed that the Malaysian government is determined to ensure that Palestinian refugees receive the support and solidarity they deserve.
Many of the attendees expressed their solidarity with Palestine and Palestinian refugees, and have vowed to contribute to the national fundraising campaign, which will continue for a month.
It is noteworthy that for decades, Malaysia has been a consistent supporter of UNRWA, both in financial and political matters.
Italy, on Monday, approved an additional funding of EUR 3.5 million for UNRWA programs to be carried out in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip, according to a press release by the Italian Consulate in Jerusalem.
“In accordance with the well-established Italian support to UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and given the serious financial difficulties that UNRWA is facing, Italy has approved an additional funding of EUR 3.5 million for programs to be carried out in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip,” said the statement.
“The contribution comes on top of the financial effort already set up by Italy for the benefit of the Agency. This effort, considered as a whole $14 million in 2017, allows our country to be the 14th most important donor of the agency.”
The statement said, according to WAFA, that “UNRWA keeps playing an essential part by providing basic services to more than 5 million Palestinian refugees. Its activities contribute in a concrete manner to the stability of the region.”
The Italian contribution came after the United States, the largest donor with $360 million in annual aid to UNRWA, decided to stop all funding to the humanitarian agency, a step seen to punish and pressure the Palestinians to accept its terms for a settlement with Israel.
“In accordance with the well-established Italian support to UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and given the serious financial difficulties that UNRWA is facing, Italy has approved an additional funding of EUR 3.5 million for programs to be carried out in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip,” said the statement.
“The contribution comes on top of the financial effort already set up by Italy for the benefit of the Agency. This effort, considered as a whole $14 million in 2017, allows our country to be the 14th most important donor of the agency.”
The statement said, according to WAFA, that “UNRWA keeps playing an essential part by providing basic services to more than 5 million Palestinian refugees. Its activities contribute in a concrete manner to the stability of the region.”
The Italian contribution came after the United States, the largest donor with $360 million in annual aid to UNRWA, decided to stop all funding to the humanitarian agency, a step seen to punish and pressure the Palestinians to accept its terms for a settlement with Israel.
The UK-based Independent daily has slammed the US decision to cut aids for UNRWA, saying the world cannot watch indifferently while Israel and the US continue to tighten grip on the Palestinians.
In Gaza, young people’s lives are not their own. At any point they could be taken by lethal force, and every day is defined by restrictions of their basic needs and control over their plans and aspirations. By withdrawing its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the United States is making that future even more uncertain, said the Independent.
According to the same source, the fact that Gazans are being cut off not just from basic amenities, but from so many opportunities, means that they cannot dream or even think about our future.
A few weeks ago, the third paramedic was killed by Israeli Forces during the “Great March of Return”, a series of demonstrations attended by as many as 30,000 people over the past few months, spanning the length of the Gaza Strip in front of the “no-go zone” which cuts the population off from access and opportunity.
The lack of control over their own lives experienced by youth imprisoned in Gaza every day, is something that they themselves may not have the power to change, it added.
The occupation of Gaza intensified 11 years ago when a land, sea and air blockade – which continues to prevent people from leaving or entering the small strip of land – was imposed by Israel and Egypt. The blockade heavily restricts imports and exports, which has decimated the economy and severely reduced the jobs and goods available for the population of around 2 million people.
According to the Independent, the blockade also cuts the population off from the natural resources and amenities that people require to live and work, severely reducing the capacity of local services.
The US withdrawal of funding to UNRWA and the life-threatening deprivation it will cause if the situation persists, makes it even more urgent for the rest of the world to campaign for the blockade to be lifted, and for individuals in Gaza to be given a level of control back to their lives, the same source concluded.
In Gaza, young people’s lives are not their own. At any point they could be taken by lethal force, and every day is defined by restrictions of their basic needs and control over their plans and aspirations. By withdrawing its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the United States is making that future even more uncertain, said the Independent.
According to the same source, the fact that Gazans are being cut off not just from basic amenities, but from so many opportunities, means that they cannot dream or even think about our future.
A few weeks ago, the third paramedic was killed by Israeli Forces during the “Great March of Return”, a series of demonstrations attended by as many as 30,000 people over the past few months, spanning the length of the Gaza Strip in front of the “no-go zone” which cuts the population off from access and opportunity.
The lack of control over their own lives experienced by youth imprisoned in Gaza every day, is something that they themselves may not have the power to change, it added.
The occupation of Gaza intensified 11 years ago when a land, sea and air blockade – which continues to prevent people from leaving or entering the small strip of land – was imposed by Israel and Egypt. The blockade heavily restricts imports and exports, which has decimated the economy and severely reduced the jobs and goods available for the population of around 2 million people.
According to the Independent, the blockade also cuts the population off from the natural resources and amenities that people require to live and work, severely reducing the capacity of local services.
The US withdrawal of funding to UNRWA and the life-threatening deprivation it will cause if the situation persists, makes it even more urgent for the rest of the world to campaign for the blockade to be lifted, and for individuals in Gaza to be given a level of control back to their lives, the same source concluded.
9 sept 2018
Officials from Israel’s security establishment have concurred that the Israeli government must work to establish an alternative to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip to avoid a humanitarian disaster in the impoverished Palestinian enclave.
Israel’s Haaretz daily reported Sunday that Israeli officials concluded in a meeting last week that a substitute must be developed to channel much-needed aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip in order to avoid further deterioration.
The officials noted during the meeting that only three percent of Gaza’s water supply is drinkable and desalination projects are not being advanced rapidly enough to stave off a water crisis. As a result, many Gazan families are storing seawater for household use, Haaretz added.
According to the report, an Israeli delegation will attend a UN donor conference in New York later this month and encourage countries to supply the necessary funding to guarantee the continued delivery of food, education services and the salaries of some 30,000 UNRWA employees in the Strip.
But, in light of the US decision to de-fund the Palestinian aid agency, the Israeli delegation will instead focus on securing funding for the provision of basic needs, Haaretz further stated.
Humanitarian conditions in the blockaded Gaza Strip have steadily declined over the years, exacerbated by a limited power supply and lack of drinkable water.
US President Donald Trump announced at the beginning of this month that Washington would cut almost $300 million in planned funding for the organization which it claimed had become an “irredeemably flawed operation.”
Washington had long been the largest single donor to the agency, supplying nearly 30 percent of the total budget to UNRWA which provides healthcare, education and social service to almost five million Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
Israel’s Haaretz daily reported Sunday that Israeli officials concluded in a meeting last week that a substitute must be developed to channel much-needed aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip in order to avoid further deterioration.
The officials noted during the meeting that only three percent of Gaza’s water supply is drinkable and desalination projects are not being advanced rapidly enough to stave off a water crisis. As a result, many Gazan families are storing seawater for household use, Haaretz added.
According to the report, an Israeli delegation will attend a UN donor conference in New York later this month and encourage countries to supply the necessary funding to guarantee the continued delivery of food, education services and the salaries of some 30,000 UNRWA employees in the Strip.
But, in light of the US decision to de-fund the Palestinian aid agency, the Israeli delegation will instead focus on securing funding for the provision of basic needs, Haaretz further stated.
Humanitarian conditions in the blockaded Gaza Strip have steadily declined over the years, exacerbated by a limited power supply and lack of drinkable water.
US President Donald Trump announced at the beginning of this month that Washington would cut almost $300 million in planned funding for the organization which it claimed had become an “irredeemably flawed operation.”
Washington had long been the largest single donor to the agency, supplying nearly 30 percent of the total budget to UNRWA which provides healthcare, education and social service to almost five million Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
7 sept 2018
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UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl said that his agency will overcome US obstacles after Trump’s decision to suspend aid to the Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Krähenbühl stressed, in a press release to Palestinians, that UNRWA will continue to work with all its energy and creativity in order to continue to meet the needs of the Palestinian refugees and maintain the basic services they provide. “All of our staff will be in their workplaces, our facilities will remain open and secure. |
We must stick to our goal in the strongest possible ways,” he said, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency.
Krähenbühl deeply regretted the US decision and the speeches that accompanied the decision.
“With all confidence and firm determination, we will continue in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and I want to make sure that our agents will overcome these obstacles,” he said.
The UN agency is facing the biggest financial crisis in its history after the US decision a few months ago to reduce its contribution in 2018 to about $ 65 million, compared to 365 million in 2017.
Krähenbühl deeply regretted the US decision and the speeches that accompanied the decision.
“With all confidence and firm determination, we will continue in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and I want to make sure that our agents will overcome these obstacles,” he said.
The UN agency is facing the biggest financial crisis in its history after the US decision a few months ago to reduce its contribution in 2018 to about $ 65 million, compared to 365 million in 2017.
6 sept 2018
Speaking in a conference call with Jewish leaders ahead of Rosh Hashanah, US president says his decision to stop all funds to Palestinian refugee agency carries a clear message: 'If you don’t make a deal, we’re not paying.'
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US would not renew its transfer of funds to the Palestinians until they agreed to come to the negotiating table with Israel to end the decades-long conflict.
The Trump administration recently announced it would cease to provide any financial aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which the US and Israel have accused of deliberately bloating the number of bona fide Palestinian refugees.
“What I will tell you is I stopped massive amounts of money that we were paying to the Palestinians and the Palestinian leaders,” Trump said in a 25-minute conference call with rabbis and Jewish leaders ahead of the new year festival of Rosh Hashanah.
“The United States was paying them tremendous amounts of money. And I say, ‘You’ll get money, but we’re not paying until you make a deal. If you don’t make a deal, we’re not paying,’” he said.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and the US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman also participated in the call.
“I don’t think it’s disrespectful at all” for US aid to be used as leverage, Trump said in response to a question posed by Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz.
“I think it’s disrespectful when people don’t come to the table,” the president continued, according to the Jewish Insider.
Asked by Dershowitz whether the Jewish community could be optimistic about his ability to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict “that we pray for all the time,” Trump responded categorically.
“I think the answer to that is a very strong yes. I really do believe we are going to make a deal. I hope so. It would be a great thing to do,” he said.
“I am a very proud father of a Jewish daughter, Ivanka,” Trump said in his opening remarks, adding that he’s also proud Jared Kushner.
UNRWA was founded in 1949 after the first Arab-Israel war—the War of Independence—in the wake of the exodus of around 700,000 Palestinian refugees.
The nascent state of Israel absorbed Jewish refugees who were expelled or who fled from neighboring Arab countries, while other Arab states refused to grant the Palestinians citizenship.
As a result, UNRWA now looks after more than 5 million descendants of those original refugees, in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israel argues that UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian refugee problem by grossly inflating the number of genuine refugees.
Trump also spoke about the Iran nuclear deal from which he withdrew in May, which he has repeatedly described as the "worst deal."
“They should thank us profusely for what we did. We gave them $150 billion. Even crazier sounding to me is that we gave them $1.8 billion in cash. If anybody knows what $1.8 billion in cash looks like, I’m still trying to figure it out. They took the money out of banks from three major states and they didn’t have enough, so they ended using banks from other countries to get them the money. It was the craziest deal," Trump said.
Praising the "tremendously positive impact" that his withdrawal has, Trump said "I think Israel feels a lot safer than they’ve felt in many, many years."
"I can only say from the standpoint of Israel, what I did was a great thing for Israel. And what I did was also a very good thing for world peace, because everywhere we went—especially in the Middle East—where there was a problem, Iran stood behind that problem," the president said.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US would not renew its transfer of funds to the Palestinians until they agreed to come to the negotiating table with Israel to end the decades-long conflict.
The Trump administration recently announced it would cease to provide any financial aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which the US and Israel have accused of deliberately bloating the number of bona fide Palestinian refugees.
“What I will tell you is I stopped massive amounts of money that we were paying to the Palestinians and the Palestinian leaders,” Trump said in a 25-minute conference call with rabbis and Jewish leaders ahead of the new year festival of Rosh Hashanah.
“The United States was paying them tremendous amounts of money. And I say, ‘You’ll get money, but we’re not paying until you make a deal. If you don’t make a deal, we’re not paying,’” he said.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and the US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman also participated in the call.
“I don’t think it’s disrespectful at all” for US aid to be used as leverage, Trump said in response to a question posed by Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz.
“I think it’s disrespectful when people don’t come to the table,” the president continued, according to the Jewish Insider.
Asked by Dershowitz whether the Jewish community could be optimistic about his ability to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict “that we pray for all the time,” Trump responded categorically.
“I think the answer to that is a very strong yes. I really do believe we are going to make a deal. I hope so. It would be a great thing to do,” he said.
“I am a very proud father of a Jewish daughter, Ivanka,” Trump said in his opening remarks, adding that he’s also proud Jared Kushner.
UNRWA was founded in 1949 after the first Arab-Israel war—the War of Independence—in the wake of the exodus of around 700,000 Palestinian refugees.
The nascent state of Israel absorbed Jewish refugees who were expelled or who fled from neighboring Arab countries, while other Arab states refused to grant the Palestinians citizenship.
As a result, UNRWA now looks after more than 5 million descendants of those original refugees, in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israel argues that UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian refugee problem by grossly inflating the number of genuine refugees.
Trump also spoke about the Iran nuclear deal from which he withdrew in May, which he has repeatedly described as the "worst deal."
“They should thank us profusely for what we did. We gave them $150 billion. Even crazier sounding to me is that we gave them $1.8 billion in cash. If anybody knows what $1.8 billion in cash looks like, I’m still trying to figure it out. They took the money out of banks from three major states and they didn’t have enough, so they ended using banks from other countries to get them the money. It was the craziest deal," Trump said.
Praising the "tremendously positive impact" that his withdrawal has, Trump said "I think Israel feels a lot safer than they’ve felt in many, many years."
"I can only say from the standpoint of Israel, what I did was a great thing for Israel. And what I did was also a very good thing for world peace, because everywhere we went—especially in the Middle East—where there was a problem, Iran stood behind that problem," the president said.
5 sept 2018
Jordanian minister of foreign affairs Ayman Safadi has affirmed that his country is determined to make every effort to resolve the financial crisis of UNRWA.
During a Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee’s meeting on Tuesday, Safadi added that these efforts were proactive, coming in response to King Abdullah’s directives. He stressed the need to resolve the agency’s financial crisis and mobilize international political and financial support for it.
The meeting, chaired by MP Ra’ed Khaza’la, was held to discuss the latest developments regarding the Palestinian question and the US decision to end its funding of UNRWA, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.
“At the time when the US announced its decision to cut the funding of UNRWA, many countries have scaled up their financial and political support to the agency, which rendered it capable of carrying out its services in the fields of education, health and relief assistance,” Safadi said.
He also stated that Jordan called for an Arab foreign ministers’ meeting to discuss ways of supporting UNRWA, adding that Jordan would organize in cooperation with Sweden, Japan, the European Union and Turkey a conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s meetings this month to discuss means of securing the funds needed by the agency.
During a Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee’s meeting on Tuesday, Safadi added that these efforts were proactive, coming in response to King Abdullah’s directives. He stressed the need to resolve the agency’s financial crisis and mobilize international political and financial support for it.
The meeting, chaired by MP Ra’ed Khaza’la, was held to discuss the latest developments regarding the Palestinian question and the US decision to end its funding of UNRWA, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.
“At the time when the US announced its decision to cut the funding of UNRWA, many countries have scaled up their financial and political support to the agency, which rendered it capable of carrying out its services in the fields of education, health and relief assistance,” Safadi said.
He also stated that Jordan called for an Arab foreign ministers’ meeting to discuss ways of supporting UNRWA, adding that Jordan would organize in cooperation with Sweden, Japan, the European Union and Turkey a conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s meetings this month to discuss means of securing the funds needed by the agency.
Britain announced on Tuesday that it would increase its aid to UNRWA, the UN agency for “Palestinian refugees.”
“Today I announced an additional £7 million of British aid for UNRWA. This helps ensure Palestinians can continue to access vital healthcare and education,” British minister of state for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt said.
“The international community must follow our lead and step up support to ensure vital services aren’t interrupted,” he added.
Britain’s announcement comes several days after the US administration announced it would no longer fund UNRWA.
Washington’s new decision over UNRWA came several months after it decided to cut some of its funding to the agency as part of its intents to end the Palestinian right of return.
UNRWA recently said it had managed to pay salaries and provide some services, but also said there was still a large budget deficit of $256 million.
On Saturday, the European Union (EU) urged the US to reconsider its "regrettable" decision to cut funding to UNRWA and affirmed it would continue to fund the organization.
"The EU is committed to secure the continuation and sustainability of the agency’s work which is vital for stability and security in the region," a statement emphasized, adding that "many others in the international community, including many Arab states, have pledged their support to the continuity of the work that UNRWA is doing."
The US decision was also criticized by Jordan, whose foreign minister warned the decision would only fuel radicalism and harm prospects for Middle East peace.
“Today I announced an additional £7 million of British aid for UNRWA. This helps ensure Palestinians can continue to access vital healthcare and education,” British minister of state for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt said.
“The international community must follow our lead and step up support to ensure vital services aren’t interrupted,” he added.
Britain’s announcement comes several days after the US administration announced it would no longer fund UNRWA.
Washington’s new decision over UNRWA came several months after it decided to cut some of its funding to the agency as part of its intents to end the Palestinian right of return.
UNRWA recently said it had managed to pay salaries and provide some services, but also said there was still a large budget deficit of $256 million.
On Saturday, the European Union (EU) urged the US to reconsider its "regrettable" decision to cut funding to UNRWA and affirmed it would continue to fund the organization.
"The EU is committed to secure the continuation and sustainability of the agency’s work which is vital for stability and security in the region," a statement emphasized, adding that "many others in the international community, including many Arab states, have pledged their support to the continuity of the work that UNRWA is doing."
The US decision was also criticized by Jordan, whose foreign minister warned the decision would only fuel radicalism and harm prospects for Middle East peace.
Head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege MP Jamal al-Khudari on Tuesday said that food insecurity is threatening one million refugees in Gaza as the US suspended its aid to UNRWA.
Al-Khudari in a statement called for immediate intervention to save the Gaza Strip from unprecedented deterioration in all aspects of life.
He called on the international community to take an action to keep UNRWA's services running without reductions, with the help of the UN General Assembly which mandated UNRWA to operate in Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
He stressed the need for supporting UNRWA financially given the worsening humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip as a result of the 12-year-long blockade.
MP al-Khudari also called for launching new projects in Gaza in view of the high unemployment rate which has recently reached 62%.
The Palestinian official concluded by shedding light on the UN resolutions which guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to live in dignity.
Al-Khudari in a statement called for immediate intervention to save the Gaza Strip from unprecedented deterioration in all aspects of life.
He called on the international community to take an action to keep UNRWA's services running without reductions, with the help of the UN General Assembly which mandated UNRWA to operate in Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
He stressed the need for supporting UNRWA financially given the worsening humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip as a result of the 12-year-long blockade.
MP al-Khudari also called for launching new projects in Gaza in view of the high unemployment rate which has recently reached 62%.
The Palestinian official concluded by shedding light on the UN resolutions which guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to live in dignity.
4 sept 2018
The Palestinian Businessmen Association (PBA) has warned that 90 percent of the economic activities in the besieged Gaza Strip will grind to a halt completely as a result of the financial and humanitarian shocks that have afflicted the population, especially after the US administration stopped funding UNRWA.
Head of the association Ali al-Hayek stated on Monday that thousands of Palestinian citizens in Gaza are threatened with unemployment during the current year as a result of the escalating blockade and the financial crisis that hit UNRWA.
Hayek affirmed that the unemployment rate among the refugees in Gaza would reach 65 percent by the end of 2018 if there was no clear funding program ending UNRWA’s financial crisis.
Head of the association Ali al-Hayek stated on Monday that thousands of Palestinian citizens in Gaza are threatened with unemployment during the current year as a result of the escalating blockade and the financial crisis that hit UNRWA.
Hayek affirmed that the unemployment rate among the refugees in Gaza would reach 65 percent by the end of 2018 if there was no clear funding program ending UNRWA’s financial crisis.
