Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The High Representative of the European Union has released a statement on draft legislation in the Israeli parliament that could stop UNRWA operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
As reported by EU Press, the European Union voiced grave concern about the draft bill on UNRWA currently being debated in the Israeli parliament. The EU strongly endorsed the UN Secretary General’s call on the matter and shared the situation that this draft bill, if adopted, would have catastrophic consequences, preventing the UN Agency from continuing to deliver its services and protection to Palestine refugees in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
How will Israel’s draft bill impact UNRWA operations?
EU stated that the final adoption of the bill would repeal the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA, block all UNRWA’s operations in Israel and East Jerusalem, destroy UNRWA’s life-saving procedures in Gaza, seriously hamper the provision of health, education and social services in the West Bank, and cancel UNRWA’s diplomatic privileges and immunities.
How does the EU support UNRWA’s continued operations in Gaza?
According to the statement, the EU insists the Israeli authorities ensure that UNRWA is permitted to continue carrying out its crucial position in line with its mandate adopted by the UN General Assembly. UNRWA delivers essential services to millions of people in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and across the region, including Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and is a post of regional stability. It also recreates a fundamental role in ensuring the conditions on the ground for a credible path towards the Two-State solution.
EU expressed that it is a firm supporter of the United Nations and the multilateral and rules-based global governance system of which UNRWA, as a UN agency, is a factor. The EU is committed to continuing its backing to the Agency, and closely observes the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group report and further strong action by the UN to ensure neutrality, and Accountability and maintain control and oversight over the operations of the Agency.
