22 jan 2018
Over 33 Jewish settlers on Monday stormed the plazas of al-Aqsa Mosque, hours prior to the visit of the US Vice President Michael Pence to al-Burq Wall within the holy site.
Jerusalemite sources told Quds Press that the incursion took place in the morning hours from the Israeli-controlled al-Magharebah gate.
Israeli police have been deployed in the neighborhoods of the holy city since Monday morning amid tightened security measures. The police security moves included the closure of many roads and the erection of military barriers for inspecting Palestinian youths before Pence’s visit.
Jerusalemite sources told Quds Press that the incursion took place in the morning hours from the Israeli-controlled al-Magharebah gate.
Israeli police have been deployed in the neighborhoods of the holy city since Monday morning amid tightened security measures. The police security moves included the closure of many roads and the erection of military barriers for inspecting Palestinian youths before Pence’s visit.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who landed in Israel Sunday evening after spending 36 hours in Egypt and Jordan, has kicked off his meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling him he is honored to be in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem.
Meeting privately, Pence told Netanyahu it was a "great honor" to be in "Israel's capital, Jerusalem".
Later in the day, Pence will deliver a speech in Israel’s Knesset plenum.
At the start of the meeting, Netanyahu said "Dear Vice President, I have had the privilege over all these years to welcome hundreds of leaders to the capital of Israel, Jerusalem. This is the first time that we're both able to say these three words."
"I want to thank President Trump and yourself on the historic decision that I know you supported. I look forward to discussing with you, as we have begun, and to continue to strengthen our wonderful alliance. It has never been stronger, and to progress peace and security in our region is our common goal."
Israel's Foreign Ministry says Pence received a full head-of-state welcome. Present at his welcome ceremony were White House Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt, U.S. Ambassador David Friedman and the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer.
The Palestinian Authority is boycotting Pence's visit to the region, as are Christian leaders in Israel due to Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and announcement to move the embassy.
Meeting privately, Pence told Netanyahu it was a "great honor" to be in "Israel's capital, Jerusalem".
Later in the day, Pence will deliver a speech in Israel’s Knesset plenum.
At the start of the meeting, Netanyahu said "Dear Vice President, I have had the privilege over all these years to welcome hundreds of leaders to the capital of Israel, Jerusalem. This is the first time that we're both able to say these three words."
"I want to thank President Trump and yourself on the historic decision that I know you supported. I look forward to discussing with you, as we have begun, and to continue to strengthen our wonderful alliance. It has never been stronger, and to progress peace and security in our region is our common goal."
Israel's Foreign Ministry says Pence received a full head-of-state welcome. Present at his welcome ceremony were White House Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt, U.S. Ambassador David Friedman and the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer.
The Palestinian Authority is boycotting Pence's visit to the region, as are Christian leaders in Israel due to Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and announcement to move the embassy.
20 jan 2018
Hebrew TV channel 14 on Friday evening claimed that it had received a Palestinian document on the US president Donald Trump's so-called "deal of the century".
The Hebrew channel said that it had received a detailed report from the secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, Saeb Erekat, in which he presents Trump's peace plan which includes the annexation of 10% of the West Bank to Israel.
The Palestinian document reveals that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed for 5% increase in the area to be annexed.
According to the 92-page report, Trump will announce the plan within two or three months.
The channel added that based on Trump's plan, Palestinians will be allowed to use certain parts of Ashdod and Haifa ports and Ben Gurion airport; however, the Israeli security authority will remain in place.
In addition to this, a safe passage between the Gaza Strip and West Bank will be established under Israeli sovereignty.
It pointed out that Trump's plan includes setting an agreed timetable to complete negotiations but it does not specify a timetable for the Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank which will be carried out gradually based on the Palestinian performance.
Supported by some Arab countries, "the deal of the century" started to see the light following Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move his country's embassy in Israel to the holy city.
The Hebrew channel said that it had received a detailed report from the secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, Saeb Erekat, in which he presents Trump's peace plan which includes the annexation of 10% of the West Bank to Israel.
The Palestinian document reveals that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed for 5% increase in the area to be annexed.
According to the 92-page report, Trump will announce the plan within two or three months.
The channel added that based on Trump's plan, Palestinians will be allowed to use certain parts of Ashdod and Haifa ports and Ben Gurion airport; however, the Israeli security authority will remain in place.
In addition to this, a safe passage between the Gaza Strip and West Bank will be established under Israeli sovereignty.
It pointed out that Trump's plan includes setting an agreed timetable to complete negotiations but it does not specify a timetable for the Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank which will be carried out gradually based on the Palestinian performance.
Supported by some Arab countries, "the deal of the century" started to see the light following Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move his country's embassy in Israel to the holy city.
19 jan 2018
The US State Department on Thursday announced that Washington will not provide $45 million in food aid which it pledged last month for Palestinian refugees.
This came days after the US froze humanitarian aid to the UNRWA worth $65 million.
Spokeswoman for the US State Department, Heather Nauert, said in statements, "At this time we will not be providing that, but this does not mean that it will not be provided in the future."
Nauert claimed that the withholding of the funds was not intended to punish Palestinians who strongly criticized the US president Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last month.
"Other countries are required to do more," she said, adding that the US does not have to be the chief donor to every organization around the world.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl, on 15th December 2017 received a letter from the State Department Comptroller, Eric Hembree, in which he pledged $45 million for the West Bank and Gaza in response to an emergency appeal by the UNRWA.
In early January 2018, the US president threatened to halt his country's annual aid to the Palestinian Authority, which is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars, until it returns to the negotiating table.
The US provides assistance to the Palestinians through different programs including UNRWA, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Middle East Partnership Initiative and the US security assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
This came days after the US froze humanitarian aid to the UNRWA worth $65 million.
Spokeswoman for the US State Department, Heather Nauert, said in statements, "At this time we will not be providing that, but this does not mean that it will not be provided in the future."
Nauert claimed that the withholding of the funds was not intended to punish Palestinians who strongly criticized the US president Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last month.
"Other countries are required to do more," she said, adding that the US does not have to be the chief donor to every organization around the world.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl, on 15th December 2017 received a letter from the State Department Comptroller, Eric Hembree, in which he pledged $45 million for the West Bank and Gaza in response to an emergency appeal by the UNRWA.
In early January 2018, the US president threatened to halt his country's annual aid to the Palestinian Authority, which is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars, until it returns to the negotiating table.
The US provides assistance to the Palestinians through different programs including UNRWA, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Middle East Partnership Initiative and the US security assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
18 jan 2018
The US administration’s peace envoy, Jason Greenblatt, will arrive in Palestine today to meet with envoys from the Middle East Quartet to explore the situation following president Donald Trump’s recognition of Occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
His visit is taking place amid continued diplomatic fallout from Trump’s move on Jerusalem and his decision to cut funding for the UNRWA.
“Jason will be attending a regular meeting of the Quartet envoys to exchange information and continue our engagement on advancing peace,” a White House official told an Israeli newspaper.
Greenblatt may stay until US vice president Mike Pence’s visit, which is slated for January 22-23.
The so-called Quartet consists of representatives from the US, Russia, the UN, and the European Union. It was established in Madrid in 2002 to try to resolve the decades-old dispute between Palestinians and Israelis.
His visit is taking place amid continued diplomatic fallout from Trump’s move on Jerusalem and his decision to cut funding for the UNRWA.
“Jason will be attending a regular meeting of the Quartet envoys to exchange information and continue our engagement on advancing peace,” a White House official told an Israeli newspaper.
Greenblatt may stay until US vice president Mike Pence’s visit, which is slated for January 22-23.
The so-called Quartet consists of representatives from the US, Russia, the UN, and the European Union. It was established in Madrid in 2002 to try to resolve the decades-old dispute between Palestinians and Israelis.
12 jan 2018
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) on Thursday warned that the US administration's threat to cut its funding to UNRWA would have disastrous consequences if carried out.
NRC said that cutting fund would punish hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, who depend on the Agency for their education. It would also deny their parents the only social safety net that helps them to survive under occupation or in the case of displacement.
NRC secretary general, Jan Egeland, said in a press statement that threatening to cut aid for political purposes to millions of civilians who need it is what is expected from undemocratic regimes not from the world's biggest humanitarian donor.
Egeland added that cutting funds to UNRWA will push millions of Palestinians further into poverty and despair, stressing that other humanitarian organizations simply do not have the capacity to meet their needs if this decision is implemented, and it would all fall on Israel, as an occupying power, as well as the governments of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to do so.
NRC works closely with UNRWA in Gaza providing psychosocial support to traumatized children in its schools in addition to legal assistance to the refugees whose homes destroyed in the 2014 war are being reconstructed.
In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, NRC works with UNRWA to protect the Palestinian communities at the risk of forced displacement. Cutting UNRWA funding would undo years of work with a generation living under constant siege and recurring conflict.
Egeland noted that UNRWA budget cuts would exacerbate the situation for Palestinian refugees in Syria since 95% of them are in dire need for humanitarian assistance. It would also have devastating consequences in Jordan and Lebanon where UNRWA is the most important provider of assistance and services to Palestinian refugees, many of whom already live in abject poverty.
He explained that the US is UNRWA's largest donor, contributing $364 million of funding in 2017, followed by the European Union. Together they contribute almost 40% of UNRWA's total funding for its core budget.
"Cutting much-needed aid to refugees because Palestinian leaders have positions the US disagrees with is outrageous," Egeland said. "We call on the US administration not to follow through with this threat which would tarnish its reputation and undermine its role as a humanitarian donor."
NRC said that cutting fund would punish hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, who depend on the Agency for their education. It would also deny their parents the only social safety net that helps them to survive under occupation or in the case of displacement.
NRC secretary general, Jan Egeland, said in a press statement that threatening to cut aid for political purposes to millions of civilians who need it is what is expected from undemocratic regimes not from the world's biggest humanitarian donor.
Egeland added that cutting funds to UNRWA will push millions of Palestinians further into poverty and despair, stressing that other humanitarian organizations simply do not have the capacity to meet their needs if this decision is implemented, and it would all fall on Israel, as an occupying power, as well as the governments of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to do so.
NRC works closely with UNRWA in Gaza providing psychosocial support to traumatized children in its schools in addition to legal assistance to the refugees whose homes destroyed in the 2014 war are being reconstructed.
In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, NRC works with UNRWA to protect the Palestinian communities at the risk of forced displacement. Cutting UNRWA funding would undo years of work with a generation living under constant siege and recurring conflict.
Egeland noted that UNRWA budget cuts would exacerbate the situation for Palestinian refugees in Syria since 95% of them are in dire need for humanitarian assistance. It would also have devastating consequences in Jordan and Lebanon where UNRWA is the most important provider of assistance and services to Palestinian refugees, many of whom already live in abject poverty.
He explained that the US is UNRWA's largest donor, contributing $364 million of funding in 2017, followed by the European Union. Together they contribute almost 40% of UNRWA's total funding for its core budget.
"Cutting much-needed aid to refugees because Palestinian leaders have positions the US disagrees with is outrageous," Egeland said. "We call on the US administration not to follow through with this threat which would tarnish its reputation and undermine its role as a humanitarian donor."
10 jan 2018
US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, held on Wednesday the Palestinian Authority (PA) responsibility for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Commenting on Nablus’ shooting attack, Friedman said on his twitter account that “PA laws will provide them (the shooters) financial rewards” in reference to PA’s compensation program to families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs.
Look no further to why there is no peace, he wrote.
The Israeli War Ministry on Tuesday publicized a draft bill that would deduct welfare payments paid out by the Palestinian Authority to Palestinian prisoners and their families.
“The Palestinian Authority pays over a billion shekels a year to terrorists and their relatives, thereby encouraging and perpetuating terrorism,” the Ministry claimed.
Commenting on Nablus’ shooting attack, Friedman said on his twitter account that “PA laws will provide them (the shooters) financial rewards” in reference to PA’s compensation program to families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs.
Look no further to why there is no peace, he wrote.
The Israeli War Ministry on Tuesday publicized a draft bill that would deduct welfare payments paid out by the Palestinian Authority to Palestinian prisoners and their families.
“The Palestinian Authority pays over a billion shekels a year to terrorists and their relatives, thereby encouraging and perpetuating terrorism,” the Ministry claimed.
9 jan 2018
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said, on Monday, that its mandate comes only from the United Nations General Assembly, which created it in 1950 following the Palestinians’ dispersion from their homeland, with Israel’s creation by a UN resolution in 1947.
UNRWA’s response came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for cutting aid to UNRWA until it ceases to exist.
“UNRWA is an organization that perpetuates the problem of the Palestinian refugees. It also perpetuates the narrative of the so-called ‘right of return’ with the aim of eliminating the State of Israel, and therefore UNRWA must disappear,” Netanyahu said on Sunday.
UNRWA spokesman Sami Mushasha said, in a statement, according to WAFA, that “what perpetuates the problem of Palestinian refugees is failure of the parties to deal with this issue, which should be resolved by the parties to conflict through peace negotiations based on UN resolutions and international law as well as active involvement from the international community.”
The UN called, in its General Assembly resolution 194, passed on December 11,1948, for the return or compensation of more than 700,000 Palestinians who were forced out of their homes and land by armed Israeli paramilitary groups.
Mushasha said that UNRWA, which began operations on 1 May, 1950, funded by contributions from UN member states, and whose services encompass education, health care, social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, “has a mandate to continue with its mission until there is a just and lasting solution to the Palestine refugees issue.”
Netanyahu’s statement came after US President Donald Trump and his UN ambassador, Nikky Haley, had also threatened to cut financial aid to the Palestinians, including to UNRWA, if the Palestinians do not return to the negotiation table with Israel. The US is the largest single donor to UNRWA, with over $350 million in annual official aid.
However, a senior US administration official denied, on Sunday, that a decision has been made on cutting aid to UNRWA.
“There is no existing schedule that obligates the United States to provide specific amounts of aid to UNWRA on specific dates,” said the official in a statement from Washington. “The decisions of when to provide aid in the fiscal year, and in what allocations, lie with the Secretary of State. At this time no such decisions have been made.”
UNRWA, which is suffering from shortage in budget, is appealing for $400 million in aid to meet humanitarian demands by Palestinian refugees, whose number has reached over 5 million since 1948, particularly in conflict areas such as Gaza and Syria.
UNRWA’s response came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for cutting aid to UNRWA until it ceases to exist.
“UNRWA is an organization that perpetuates the problem of the Palestinian refugees. It also perpetuates the narrative of the so-called ‘right of return’ with the aim of eliminating the State of Israel, and therefore UNRWA must disappear,” Netanyahu said on Sunday.
UNRWA spokesman Sami Mushasha said, in a statement, according to WAFA, that “what perpetuates the problem of Palestinian refugees is failure of the parties to deal with this issue, which should be resolved by the parties to conflict through peace negotiations based on UN resolutions and international law as well as active involvement from the international community.”
The UN called, in its General Assembly resolution 194, passed on December 11,1948, for the return or compensation of more than 700,000 Palestinians who were forced out of their homes and land by armed Israeli paramilitary groups.
Mushasha said that UNRWA, which began operations on 1 May, 1950, funded by contributions from UN member states, and whose services encompass education, health care, social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, “has a mandate to continue with its mission until there is a just and lasting solution to the Palestine refugees issue.”
Netanyahu’s statement came after US President Donald Trump and his UN ambassador, Nikky Haley, had also threatened to cut financial aid to the Palestinians, including to UNRWA, if the Palestinians do not return to the negotiation table with Israel. The US is the largest single donor to UNRWA, with over $350 million in annual official aid.
However, a senior US administration official denied, on Sunday, that a decision has been made on cutting aid to UNRWA.
“There is no existing schedule that obligates the United States to provide specific amounts of aid to UNWRA on specific dates,” said the official in a statement from Washington. “The decisions of when to provide aid in the fiscal year, and in what allocations, lie with the Secretary of State. At this time no such decisions have been made.”
UNRWA, which is suffering from shortage in budget, is appealing for $400 million in aid to meet humanitarian demands by Palestinian refugees, whose number has reached over 5 million since 1948, particularly in conflict areas such as Gaza and Syria.
7 jan 2018
Cairo has denied reports released by U.S. media that it has accepted the U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Refuting a report by the New York Times, Egypt’s State Information Service said President Abdul Fattah al-Sissi has not recognized Ramallah, instead of Jerusalem, as the capital of Palestine.
The Egyptian authorities added that such reports are “mere allegations” and ones rooted in anonymous and unauthentic sources.
The four persons who have been contacted by the Egyptian officer are identified as: Mufeed Fawzi, Saad Hasaseen, Yosra, and Azmi Mujahed.
According to a Saturday report by the New York Times, an Egyptian intelligence officer, Capt. Ashraf al-Kholi, quietly placed phone calls to the hosts of several influential talk shows in Egypt.
The same source quoted al-Kholi as stating that strife with Israel was not in Egypt’s national interest. He told the hosts that instead of condemning the decision, they should persuade their viewers to accept it. Palestinians, he suggested, should content themselves with the dreary West Bank town that currently houses the Palestinian Authority, Ramallah.
“How is Jerusalem different from Ramallah, really?” Captain Kholi asked repeatedly in four audio recordings of his telephone calls obtained by The New York Times.
“Exactly that,” agreed one host, Azmi Megahed, who confirmed the authenticity of the recording.
Trump’s decision last month to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital broke with a central premise of 50 years of American-sponsored peace talks, defied decades of Arab demands that Jerusalem be the capital of a Palestinian state, and stoked fears of a violent backlash across the Middle East.
Egyptian state media reported that President al-Sisi had personally protested to Trump. Egyptian religious leaders close to the government refused to meet with Vice President Mike Pence, and Egypt submitted a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a reversal of Trump’s decision. (The United States vetoed the resolution, although the General Assembly adopted a similar one, over American objections, days later.)
Refuting a report by the New York Times, Egypt’s State Information Service said President Abdul Fattah al-Sissi has not recognized Ramallah, instead of Jerusalem, as the capital of Palestine.
The Egyptian authorities added that such reports are “mere allegations” and ones rooted in anonymous and unauthentic sources.
The four persons who have been contacted by the Egyptian officer are identified as: Mufeed Fawzi, Saad Hasaseen, Yosra, and Azmi Mujahed.
According to a Saturday report by the New York Times, an Egyptian intelligence officer, Capt. Ashraf al-Kholi, quietly placed phone calls to the hosts of several influential talk shows in Egypt.
The same source quoted al-Kholi as stating that strife with Israel was not in Egypt’s national interest. He told the hosts that instead of condemning the decision, they should persuade their viewers to accept it. Palestinians, he suggested, should content themselves with the dreary West Bank town that currently houses the Palestinian Authority, Ramallah.
“How is Jerusalem different from Ramallah, really?” Captain Kholi asked repeatedly in four audio recordings of his telephone calls obtained by The New York Times.
“Exactly that,” agreed one host, Azmi Megahed, who confirmed the authenticity of the recording.
Trump’s decision last month to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital broke with a central premise of 50 years of American-sponsored peace talks, defied decades of Arab demands that Jerusalem be the capital of a Palestinian state, and stoked fears of a violent backlash across the Middle East.
Egyptian state media reported that President al-Sisi had personally protested to Trump. Egyptian religious leaders close to the government refused to meet with Vice President Mike Pence, and Egypt submitted a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a reversal of Trump’s decision. (The United States vetoed the resolution, although the General Assembly adopted a similar one, over American objections, days later.)
Jordanian King Abdullah II on Saturday received at al-Husseiniyeh Palace an Arab ministerial team tasked with following up the file of Occupied Jerusalem and the implications of the US recognition of the holy city as Israel’s capital.
The ministerial team included the foreign ministers of Egypt, Sameh Shukri, Palestine, Riyad Al Malki, Saudi Arabia, Adel Al Jubeir, and Morocco, Nasser Bourita as well as Arab League secretary-general Ahmad Aboul Gheit and others.
King Abdullah underlined the need to ramp up efforts and coordinate Arab positions to support the Palestinians in safeguarding their inalienable historic and legal rights in the city of Jerusalem and their quest for an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital.
The issue of Jerusalem, he stressed, should be settled within the framework of a final settlement and a permanent peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.
The King also emphasized the importance of supporting the steadfastness of Jerusalemites and protecting the Arab identity of Jerusalem and Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city, and the need to build on the international consensus regarding the legal status of Jerusalem.
He also reiterated that Jordan, based on the Hashemite custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy shrines in Jerusalem, would make every effort to protect the holy places in the city.
The meeting explored mechanisms to confront the impacts of the US administration’s capital recognition and its intent to move its embassy to Jerusalem, according to Jordan News Agency (Petra).
The ministerial team included the foreign ministers of Egypt, Sameh Shukri, Palestine, Riyad Al Malki, Saudi Arabia, Adel Al Jubeir, and Morocco, Nasser Bourita as well as Arab League secretary-general Ahmad Aboul Gheit and others.
King Abdullah underlined the need to ramp up efforts and coordinate Arab positions to support the Palestinians in safeguarding their inalienable historic and legal rights in the city of Jerusalem and their quest for an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital.
The issue of Jerusalem, he stressed, should be settled within the framework of a final settlement and a permanent peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.
The King also emphasized the importance of supporting the steadfastness of Jerusalemites and protecting the Arab identity of Jerusalem and Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city, and the need to build on the international consensus regarding the legal status of Jerusalem.
He also reiterated that Jordan, based on the Hashemite custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy shrines in Jerusalem, would make every effort to protect the holy places in the city.
The meeting explored mechanisms to confront the impacts of the US administration’s capital recognition and its intent to move its embassy to Jerusalem, according to Jordan News Agency (Petra).
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supports a gradual cutback of American funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
According to a Saturday report by Haaretz daily, Netanyahu’s bureau over the weekend said that the prime minister “supports a critical approach by President Trump and believes that practical steps must be taken to change the situation in which UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian refugee problem instead of resolving it.”
According to the anonymous official, Israel prefers a gradual cutback of U.S. funding.
The Israeli official’s statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump and his envoy to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said that the United States would cut aid to the Palestinians if they did not return to the negotiating table.
The United States gives over $300 million a year to UNRWA, which constitutes one third of the agency’s budget. According to diplomats familiar with discussions on the matter, it is now mainly Haley who supports Netanyahu's suggestion, in keeping with the policy of penalties she declared after the vote in the UN General Assembly against Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, UNRWA was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 to carry out direct relief and works programs for Palestine refugees. The Agency began operations on 1 May 1950. The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure, and emergency assistance.
According to a Saturday report by Haaretz daily, Netanyahu’s bureau over the weekend said that the prime minister “supports a critical approach by President Trump and believes that practical steps must be taken to change the situation in which UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian refugee problem instead of resolving it.”
According to the anonymous official, Israel prefers a gradual cutback of U.S. funding.
The Israeli official’s statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump and his envoy to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said that the United States would cut aid to the Palestinians if they did not return to the negotiating table.
The United States gives over $300 million a year to UNRWA, which constitutes one third of the agency’s budget. According to diplomats familiar with discussions on the matter, it is now mainly Haley who supports Netanyahu's suggestion, in keeping with the policy of penalties she declared after the vote in the UN General Assembly against Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, UNRWA was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 to carry out direct relief and works programs for Palestine refugees. The Agency began operations on 1 May 1950. The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure, and emergency assistance.
