UNRWA policy discussions often waste precious activist energy on the unachievable goal of getting rid of UNRWA – which would require the agreement of a majority of UN members. However, the UN will never vote for a measure that openly favors Israel. Instead, UNRWA policy change must be articulated in terms of universal United Nations values, which stress peace and reconciliation. It cannot be presented as a pro-Israel resolution. The working assumption is that UN​ members and relief agencies* funding the $1.6 billion UNRWA budget, 58% of which is earmarked for education**, ascribe to UN values of peace and reconciliation. UNRWA policy change must therefore be couched as an UNRWA Peace initiative, for UNRWA to conform to UN values.

​Contours of the Updated UNRWA Peace Initiative

  1. Cancelling the new UNRWA curriculum***, based on Jihad, martyrdom and “right of return by force of arms”, items which have no place in UN education.
  2. Disarm​ing  UNRWA schools****
  3. Insisting that UNRWA dismiss ​employees affiliated with Hamas, Islamic Jihad or Fatah​ terror organizations,which cannot be afforded any standing in a UN organization.
  4. Introducing UNHCR standards to advance resettlement of fourth- and fifth-generation refugees from 1948, who have spent seven decades relegated to refugee camps. Current UNRWA policy is that Arab refugee resettlement would interfere with the “right of return” to pre-1948 Arab localities. ​UNRWA ​must not be allowed to flaunt its commitment to assist refugees from 1948 and their descendants.
  5. Demanding an audit of funds from 6​7 donor nations​ and 33 relief agencies, to address evidence of wasted resources, duplication of services and cash to terror groups that dominate UNRWA staff.

​*HTTPS://WWW.UNRWA.ORG/HOW-YOU-CAN-HELP/GOVERNMENT-PARTNERS/FUNDING-TRENDS

**https://www.unrwa.org/how-you-can-help/how-we-spend-funds

***https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/app/uploads/2024/05/E_114_24.pdf

****https://israelbehindthenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/p14-17.pdf​

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