A bill was proposed in Israel’s Knesset to declare the United Nations Releif and Working Agency, a United Nations (UN) organization working for Palestinian refugees. The bill was approved in its first reading. 50 members voted in favor of the bill, and 10 members voted in denial of the bill.
The bill, after approval, was sent to the ministry of foreign affairs and defense of Israel to ban UNRWA and eradicate all types of relations, either direct or indirect, with UNRWA.
MK Yulia Malinovsky, the bill’s sponsor, said, “We have to perform a surgical cut here and end the event. We are on the UN’s blacklist in any case. All the excessive morality ended on October 7. UNRWA is a terrorist organization, and not only in Jerusalem. It is a fifth column within the State of Israel. And not just municipal property tax benefits—everything should be revoked from them. The fact that this hasn’t happened until now—for seven months—is a disgrace. What is happening today is a badge of honor for the Knesset and for the members of the Knesset. The fact that we succeeded in joining hands—coalition and opposition—is a very important statement for the government. We did a wonderful job together with all the partners on these bills.”
Israel has said hundreds of UNRWA staff are members of terrorist groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but has yet to provide evidence for a U.N.-appointed review.
