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Israeli Foreign Minister calls for resignation of the director of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has been at the center of the storm since Friday.
Israeli Foreign Minister calls for resignation of the director of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has been at the center of the storm since Friday. Following the information provided by Israel, the UN organization fired nine employees. General, According to Israel, 12 of them were involved in the October 7 massacre.. UNRWA launched an investigation, but donor countries decided to withhold funding essential to the agency’s survival. Palestinians condemn these politically motivated attacks because their status as Palestinian refugees depends on UNRWA.
Interview with Jalal al-Husseinijunior researcher French Institute for the Middle East in AmmanJordan, regarding the possible disappearance of the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA, its acronym in English).
– Why does the Palestinian refugee status still exist today?
Jalal al-Husseini (research fellow at the French Institute for the Middle East in Amman, Jordan): This refugee status was passed down from generation to generation, from father to son, in a patriarchal way. This right continues because the right to return or compensation is provided for in Resolution 194 of December 1948, which provides that “Refugees who wish to do so should be allowed to return to their homes as soon as possible or receive compensation in return.”. Until this UN resolution is implemented or there is no alternative solution, the refugee problem will remain unresolved.
The example of Palestine shows that there are still visible symbols of the permanence or perpetuation of the refugee problem, which is also reflected in the persistence Mandate of UNRWA from 1950. This is a question that remains unanswered and that is where we find ourselves. As long as the refugee problem remains unresolved, whether through repatriation – in some form if that is still possible – or through compensation, we will remain at an impasse. This is why refugees pass this status on from generation to generation, awaiting a final solution to their problem.
– Is the return of refugees a particularly sensitive issue in negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians?
Of course, this is an extremely sensitive topic. The Palestinian position has changed, particularly that of Palestinian leaders, who have made it clear several times since the late 1980s that the issue of Palestinian return should not derail all Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which they also touch upon. state. Since the late 1980s, the main demand of Palestinian leaders has been creation of a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Since then, Palestinian leaders have demanded that Israel recognize at least in principle the existence of this right.
– Is this the context in which Israel’s criticism of UNRWA should be understood?
Israel’s position regarding UNRWA is complex. On the one side, UNRWA represents for Israel a symbol of the persistence of this problem., which I would like to see disappear. On the other hand, in the absence of a solution, Israel is well aware that the existence of UNRWA is an important element of stability in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza. Israel as an occupying power between 1967 and 1994, led these operations on a daily basis in conjunction with UNRWA. There was an operational agreement between UNRWA and Israel that established the rules of cooperation between both parties.
For over 30 years, UNRWA has collaborated with Israel, as with any other host country such as Syria, Jordan And Lebanon. Israel knows very well how Unrva works. Most of it accusations refer to the fact that some Local UNRWA staff turned out to be Hamas militants. But this is a very old question. Since the 1960s, UNRWA has had a rule of neutrality: all staff, regardless of their political affiliation, are required to ensure that their affiliation does not undermine the agency’s neutrality.
Photo: Reuters
But in certain cases, in the event of a political crisis or war, some employees cross this limit. There were investigations, and then sanctions, against those who violated UNRWA neutrality rules. Today they want us to believe that this is something completely new, but it comes from afar, and Israel knows this very well. UNRWA is doing everything possible to prevent this from happening, but there have been incidents and there have been sanctions. In addition, UNRWA has since established a neutrality unit consisting of representatives from international agencies who visit UNRWA facilities to ensure compliance with its educational, medical and other missions, as well as to check for obvious signs of belligerence at these facilities, such as anti-Israel slogans . UNRWA is well aware that this could undermine its activities.
– If UNRWA disappears, will Palestinians lose their refugee status?
This is one of the problems: Palestinian refugees under UNRWA are not part of the overall refugee structure. are not under the care of UNHCRare not covered by the 1951 Convention. The only real element of international recognition of Palestine refugees is Resolution 194, but it is also registration card Unra. If the agency disappears, it will be very serious for the Palestinians.in the sense that they will lose one of the main symbols of their recognition.
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At the same time, host countries are very careful to ensure that they do not lose this status. With the exception of Jordan, host Arab countries and the Arab League have decided not to grant citizenship in recognition of Palestinian citizenship refugees. Granting them citizenship, in their opinion, would be tantamount to their complete assimilation, forcing them to forget about their right of return. They are thus stateless, with the exception of Jordan, as Jordan needed Palestinian labor and decided to grant them citizenship by maintaining the camps while continuing to maintain the UNRWA mandate on its territory.
– What would it mean for Palestinians to lose their refugee status, which allows them to claim the right of return?
Sixty, seventy years have passed. Few refugees think that one day they will have the right to return to their city, to what was their city, their city in Palestine. But this demand was made in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194. At that time, this resolution was supported not by Arab countries, but by the United States, France and Turkey. resolution supported by Western countriesa resolution that is the banner of Palestinian demands for return or compensation.
In fact, they cannot lose their status. They have been expelled from their country and are considered refugees by their host countries. If UNRWA disappeared, host countries would issue them refugee cards because they are refugees. But Arab countries insist that they are refugees and have a right to return and compensation.
RFI (Marine Lebesgue)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
