29 August 2013
Israel calls on UNRWA to refrain from one-sided political advocacy
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Israel regrets the fatalities that resulted from yesterday's military operation to arrest a Palestinian terrorist
suspect. A formal investigation has been launched by the IDF, as part of the standard procedure in any case involving
civilian casualties.
Without prejudice to the outcome of the investigation, we were disappointed (but not surprised) at UNRWA's press
statement from yesterday. While omitting to mention any context or reason for the Israeli operation, it was quick to
cite "credible reports" in determining that its employee had been shot "…on his way to work, and was not involved in any
violent activity". Quite aside from the fact that UNRWA did not even bother to approach any official Israeli sources for
comment, its statement was rushed to the press while the violent riots were still raging on in Kalandia. Hence, it begs
the question of how it was possible for the Agency to collect forensic evidence, cross-reference personal eye-witness
reports and reach peremptory conclusions – all of that in the space of just a few hours.
It is regrettable that UNRWA has consistently failed to display similar zeal and enthusiasm when asked to investigate
its own cases of alleged wrongdoing. Earlier this month, for example, the Agency was forced to admit that it had
negligently allowed a third party to use some of its installations in order to organize 'summer camps' where
antisemitism and incitement to violence were preached to Palestinian youth. Needless to say, UNRWA's half-hearted
admission was released only after "a lengthy and detailed investigation," as opposed to the rushed superficial procedure
it adopted yesterday.
We therefore call upon UNRWA to return to its original humanitarian agenda of assisting Palestinian refugees, while
refraining from any one-sided political advocacy activities. Only thus can it hope to be taken seriously – both by
Israel and the international donor community.
Ends.