Defund UNRWA - An Impediment to Peace

2018-08-31

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute. Refugees often are pawns in international politics, none more so than those described as “Palestinians.” Indeed, the United Nations has one organization to deal with the all world’s refugees, except the Palestinians. It has another, the Relief and Works Agency – or UNRWA – just for them. Historically, the U.S. taxpayer has paid a quarter of UNRWA’s budget, currently exceeding $1.2 billion annually. The rest comes from other nations, many happy to...

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.

Refugees often are pawns in international politics, none more so than those described as “Palestinians.”

Indeed, the United Nations has one organization to deal with the all world’s refugees, except the Palestinians. It has another, the Relief and Works Agency – or UNRWA – just for them.

Historically, the U.S. taxpayer has paid a quarter of UNRWA’s budget, currently exceeding $1.2 billion annually. The rest comes from other nations, many happy to perpetuate and exploit the Palestinians’ victim-status to delegitimize Israel.

The Trump administration recognizes that UNRWA is actually an impediment to a resolution of the so-called “conflict” between Israelis and Palestinians. It’s threatening to stop funding an organization that is, as one observer puts it, “a disruptive organ that harms the prospects for peace, keeps the Palestinians locked in a trap of dependency, and threatens Israel’s security.”

Cut UNRWA off, Mr. President.

This is Frank Gaffney.

Comments (3)