Upload
shaulc
View
219
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
1/22
UNRWA at 60: Are There Better Alternatives?
by Prof. Nitza Nachmias October 12, 2009
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives
Abstract
The United Nations Relief and Work Agency for the Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)
was established in 1948 as a temporary relief agency. In spite of its failure to solve
the refugee problem, it has been renewed and expanded for 60 years, with support
from the entire United Nations community, including the United States and Israel.
UNRWA's annual budget now exceeds half a billion dollars , and it has come to be
treated as a permanent protector and advocate of what are depicted as millions of
Palestinian "refugees" who, UNRWA claims. lack a homeland, citizenship, and
governments to serve their needs. Its mandate has been renewed repeatedly by the
UN General Assembly albeit with restrained criticism demanding more transparency
and additional budget controls.
The purpose of this paper is to explore three questions: (1) Are most of the
Palestinians in the Middle East in fact "refugees", and does treating them as
"refugees" contribute to solutions or prevent them? (2) Is UNRWA the agency best
suited to address the issues facing these populations most effectively, or does it
create more problems than it solves? (3) If UNRWA is a problem, is it the least bad of
the alternatives, or are there, in the balance of costs and benefits, other solutions with
a better probability to bring the issue to a just and rightful resolution?
The paper concludes that UNRWA is not merely an "imperfect" agency, but one that is
profoundly inimical both to the higher interests of its own Palestinian clients, and to thesearch for a political settlement of the conflicts in the region. It describes alternative
solutions that could more effectively deliver services to these Palestinian populations
while strengthening rather than undermining moderate elements and governments in
the various host countries, including the Palestinian Authority. Strengthening the PA
would help to advance the peace process. The paper proposes more effective ways to
1
8/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
2/22
channel the enormous sums misappropriated to UNRWA, to achieve vital objectives of
the donors that perpetuation of UNRWA will continue to subvert.
Introduction
Sixty years ago UNRWA was created as a temporary emergency relief agency. Its
main duties were constructing temporary shelters and providing essential food to the
Palestinian families that left their homes during the 1948 Israeli-Arab war. Sixty years
and billions of dollars later, UNRWA has become an entrenched permanent,
overstaffed, affluent bureaucracy. Hardly any traces of the original mandate can be
found in its current operations. In a surprising and unprecedented move for any
emergency aid organization, UNRWA launched in September 2008 a two-year global
celebration entitled: "UNRWA at 60". The celebrations are taking place at the UN
headquarters (NY), Vienna, Geneva, Brussels, the Gulf States, and in the donor
countries, among others. In the 60th celebration announcements UNRWA expresses
the hope that its operations will grow and flourish for many more years to come.[1]
The lavish events put an additional financial burden on the donors that astonishingly
did not stop to ask: is UNRW's 60th anniversary a cause for celebration, or is it a
testimony of failure? We will show that "UNRWA at 60" is indeed a testimony of
failure.
While the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for the Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA) was established in 1948 as a temporary relief agency, it has for 60 years
enjoyed broad support from the entire United Nations community, including even
Israel and the United States. UNRWA is treated as the protector and advocate of what
are known as millions of Palestinian refugees who claim that for four generations they
have lacked a homeland, citizenship, and a government to serve their needs.[2]
UNRWA's mandate has been renewed repeatedly by the UN General Assembly albeit
with restrained criticism demanding more transparency and additional budget controls.
[3] The purpose of this paper is to explore three questions: (1) Are most of the
Palestinians in the Middle East in fact "refugees", and does treating them as
"refugees" contribute to solutions or prevent them? (2) Is UNRWA, on balance, the
2
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn1%23_ftn1http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn2%23_ftn2http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn3%23_ftn3http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn1%23_ftn1http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn2%23_ftn2http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn3%23_ftn38/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
3/22
agency that is the most able to address the issues facing these populations most
effectively, or does it create more problems than it solves? (3) If UNRWA is a problem,
is it the least bad of the alternatives, or are there, on the balance of costs and benefits,
other solutions with a better probability to bring the issue to a just and rightful
resolution?
UNRWA claims that about five million Palestinians are refugees. We will show that
most are not. Most Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza and Jordan have been
integrated in the local communities, and many in Jordan have acquired Jordanian
citizenship. In the West Bank and Gaza the residents carry PA official documents.
Others have immigrated to the US and Europe where they are either legal residents or
citizens. For most Palestinians, the transition from refugee camps to urban dwellingsoccurred decades ago. As early as 1950, the majority of the original 1948 refugees
and their families began to move out of the camps and resettle in neighboring states
and regions. Simultaneously, non-refugees began to move into the camps for
economic advantages, especially to receive UNRWA's free services.[4] UNRWA's
bureaucracy soon adapted to the situation and moved away from its original relief
mandate to providing non emergency, civil services. [5] Yet UNRWA has been
perpetuating the myth of "millions of 1948 Palestinian refugees"; a myth that provides
the raison d'etre for UNRWA's oversized bureaucracy[6]. Moreover, UNRWA has
succumbed to major bureaucratic pathologies. It has become an ineffective self-
serving, work-creating agency suffused with favoritism and patronage. UNRWA is
definitely not a typical international humanitarian aid organization. The UN agency is
the largest non government employer in the region, employing over 29,000
Palestinians with a superstructure of 120 international advisors. Because UNRWA's
international staff is very small, the operations are planned, executed and controlled
by tens of thousands of Palestinian employees. Consequently, UNRWA's operations
follow its own institutional imperatives rather than its international mandate. [7]
In the particular case of the West Bank and Gaza, UNRWA has created unique
political and administrative dilemmas. UNRWA has become a non-territorial
administration, taking on national-governmental responsibilities, though the
3
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn4%23_ftn4http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn5%23_ftn5http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn6%23_ftn6http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn7%23_ftn7http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn4%23_ftn4http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn5%23_ftn5http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn6%23_ftn6http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn7%23_ftn78/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
4/22
8/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
5/22
livelihoods as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. UNRWA itself reports that its
original registration figures are based on information voluntarily supplied by applicants
primarily for the purpose of obtaining access to Agency's services and hence can't be
considered statistically reliable "demographic data."[10] A simple declaration by the
applicant was accepted as sufficient. UNRWA later granted benefits eligibility to the
descendants of these self-declared 1948 refugees. As a result of these financial
incentives, the number of putative "refugees" swelled from an estimated 914,000 in
1950 to over 5 million in 2009. UNRWA itself admits that the agency's "registration
records do not necessarily reflect the actual refugee population owing to the factors
such as: unreported deaths; false registration; and undetected absence from area of
UNRWA operation".[11] Thus, for six decades, UNRWA's vast budget is based on
enormously inflated numbers of clients that have never been refugees. It is important
to acknowledge the fact that for decades, UNRWA has been evading the donors
numerous requests to replace the 60-year old refugee ID cards with a new picture ID
cards. Such a process would have required UNRWA to execute a census, a process
that UNRWA never conducted. The census and the demand for the refugees to come
to UNRWA's offices, be photographed and get a bone fide UNRWA ID card would
have resulted in a big embarrassment for the agency. Most probably the majority of
the "registered refugees" will turn up to be none existent or settled.
A review of UNRWA's history reveals the unacceptable fact that for decades, UNRWA
has thwarted all efforts to settle the issue and terminate its operations. UNRWA was
created to provide short-term, emergency, humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees,
just as the newly formed United Nations sought to assist millions of refugee
populations in other parts of the world created by the upheavals of World War II and
its aftermath. The UNRWA operation was expected to be completed within two or
three years, once the emergency conditions were resolved and the refugees resettled.
The Palestinian refugees were at the time but a small percentage of the tens of
millions of refugees worldwide receiving various forms of United Nations assistance.
Dag Hammeskjold, the second UN Secretary General (1953-1961), initiated a plan for
the reintegration of the Palestinian refugees in their host countries. Under his
5
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn10%23_ftn10http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn11%23_ftn11http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn10%23_ftn10http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn11%23_ftn118/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
6/22
leadership, the UN General Assembly specifically instructed UNRWA to work to
reintegrate the refugees in the places of their refuge.[12] At the time, the refugee
camps in the West Bank were under Jordanian authority and the refugee camps in
Gaza were under Egyptian authority. The premise was that these two states would
absorb the refugees through a process of reintegration financed by the international
community.[13] With the exception of Jordan, the Arab host countries' rejected the
resettlement and reintegration proposals, and UNRWA instead, became a permanent,
self-perpetuating bureaucracy.
By the early 1950s, UNRWA's original 1948 emergency humanitarian mission was
completed. However, due to the agency's autonomous status, UNRWA was able to
shift its operational agenda and began providing non-emergency, regular, daily socialbenefits to anyone registered with the Agency who it decided to give assistance,
whether refugee or not.[14] UNRWA and other reliable sources data show that the
majority of the descendents of the original 1948 families ceased to be in need of relief
assistance many decades ago. A 1987 General Assembly report found that, only 10%
of UNRWA budget was dedicated to emergency relief, while the bulk was devoted "to
educating children and furnishing advanced training, maintaining effective public
healthcare services and providing basic welfare services to a largely industrious and
self supporting [so-called] refugee population." [15] Already 30 years ago, it was
reported that 95 percent of registered Palestinian refugees were self-supporting. A
2003 GAO report found that less than a third of the registered "refugees" live in
designated so-called "refugee camps," some only because they prefer to build their
homes in territory exempt from local taxes. Two thirds are integrated in the cities and
states in the Middle East and beyond. Over two million are resettled in Jordan, most of
whom are Jordanian citizens paying taxes and eligible to receive social services from
the Jordanian government.[16] All the same, these millions of people are,
inappropriately, holders of UNRWA refugee cards and enjoy all of UNRWA's giveaway
programs.
Once we realize that UNRWA is not actually in the refugee business at all, but is a
social welfare agency distributing benefits to a body of preferred clients whether they
6
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn12%23_ftn12http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn13%23_ftn13http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn14%23_ftn14http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn15%23_ftn15http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn16%23_ftn16http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn12%23_ftn12http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn13%23_ftn13http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn14%23_ftn14http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn15%23_ftn15http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn16%23_ftn168/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
7/22
qualify as needy or not, the real issue becomes clear: If the world community wants to
provide economic and development assistance to Palestinians, is UNRWA the best
way to select the Palestinian beneficiaries and the best agency to channel the
assistance? A systematic review of UNRWA and other existing government and non-
government organizations shows that it is not.[17]
Alternatives for Better Education Opportunities
Education is UNRWA's single largest area of activity, accounting for half its budget
and two-thirds of its staff. UNRWA provides education to over 500,000 students in 684
schools, and this is often cited as one of its supreme achievements. Commissioner
General Ms. Abu-Zayd stated recently: "Education has been central to UNRWA's
human development agenda throughout its sixty-year history. Today, more than half of
our budget is devoted to the primary education of refugee children, with equal
opportunity given to boys and girls".[18] However, UNRWA's extensive and costly
educational activity is neither humanitarian nor consistent with UNRWA's mandate.
[19] The students of UNRWA's schools come from a largely undistinguished and
unidentified population, who could hardly be considered "refugees". Moreover, recent
scholastic achievement reports show that the same students could be better served by
educating them through the hosts' national school systems. If the international
community wishes to assist Palestinian children by subsidies to their education, this
could be accomplished more effectively and with fewer collateral problems by
providing the same assistance to the state educational systems where they reside
rather than through an over-sized international bureaucracy that perpetuates the
political myth that the Palestinians are refugees and should be allowed to return to
their former homes.
As mentioned earlier, UNRWA's claim to fame in education proves misleading. Its
schools are not scholastically superior, in fact they are often inferior, to the local-
national schools, and Jordan is a case in point. James Lindsay's thorough report
shows that while UNRWA's services are free, students still prefer the national school
systems. "UNRWA schools are losing students to Jordanian government schools
7
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn17%23_ftn17http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn18%23_ftn18http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn18%23_ftn18http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn19%23_ftn19http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn17%23_ftn17http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn18%23_ftn18http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn19%23_ftn198/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
8/22
(most Palestinian refugees in Jordan are citizens so they are able to choose which
schools their children attend)." The loss of students is in contradiction to the rise in
refugee rolls. "The number of registered refugees in Jordan increased by 32.4% from
December 1997 to December 2007, while the number of students in UNRWA schools
declined by 13%".[20] To avoid negative ramification of its deteriorating educational
reputation UNRWA decided to launch an elaborate public relations campaign.[21] It is
hard to believe that these tactic will dispel the criticism.
As we have shown, the answer to UNRWA's educational problems is clear: turn over
UNRWA's costly and inferior educational system to the local governments. While the
transfer will require a major structural change the process will be facilitated by the fact
that the majority of the students are bone fide citizens of Middle Eastern states, all theteachers are local Palestinians, and the curriculum is adopted from the host countries
and the PA texts. The transfer of the educational operation is necessary and timely.
Money will be saved and overstuffed, inefficient bureaucracy will be terminated. The
big winner will, of course, be the students!
Palestinian Self-Reliance Requires an End to UNRWA's Operations
During its six decades of operation, UNRWA has deepened and propagated thePalestinian dependence on its services. This has been detrimental to the development
of Palestinian economic and social self-reliance. It probably helped the rise of Hamas
which presents itself as a genuine, self-supporting economic and social Palestinian
institution. We argue that UNRWA's inflated bureaucracy and the unrestrained scope
of its non-emergency services hinder rather than induce Palestinian self-reliance.
UNRWA's operations have been particularly damaging to the fledgling PA that has to
accept the existence of a competing United Nations governing authority within its
boundaries . The World Bank recently reported that the PA is "developing strategies
that encourage productivity and growth in the industrial, agricultural, housing, and
tourism sectors and allow the Palestinian economy to develop a diversified export
portfolio"[22] UNRWA's operations have the reverse effect of nurturing and advancing
dependence. We will present feasible alternatives to UNRWA's operations that have
8
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn20%23_ftn20http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn21%23_ftn21http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn22%23_ftn22http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn20%23_ftn20http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn21%23_ftn21http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn22%23_ftn228/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
9/22
been developed by Palestinian scholars who see that UNRWA undermines their road
to self-reliance
While UNRWA has no legal governing authority, it issues building permits, authorizes
commercial activities and acts as a "private banking system" distributing millions in
cash and loans to those it favors. Not surprisingly, thousands of residents of the West
Bank and Gaza, and millions in Jordan know only one governing authority: UNRWA.
In its "UNRWA at 60" document the agency reports that in FY 2009, it has outstanding
169 million USD in loans, granted to 157,000 people! "The agency has been providing
loans worth USD 30 million each year". UNRWA boasts that "it is the largest micro-
finance service provider in the occupied Palestinian territories and the second largest
micro-finance institution in Syria". [23] UNRWA does not include details concerningthis unusual financial activity in its annual reports, and we wonder: how can a skeleton
body of 120 international advisors properly control and manage this high volume
financial activity? One must also ask the donors: if the international community wishes
to distribute millions of dollars (cash loans and grants) to Palestinian people, shouldn't
it be done in the proper manner, through national banking institutions that exercise
control, accountability and transparency mechanisms, and not through the shady
bureaucracy of UNRWA? .
Ending this detrimental anomaly requires the termination of UNRWA's non-emergency
operations and the transfer to the proper local authorities the responsibility and
authority to plan and execute public policy, namely, educating the Palestinian children
and running health clinics. The termination of UNRWA's status as a "non-territorial
government" in the West Bank and Gaza will establish the PA as the only legal,
governing authority. The PA leadership will gain the respect and trust of the people
that is needed to counter Hamas influence in Gaza. Indeed, in the West Bank, where
UNRWA's presence is weaker, the PA's position and authority is secure and growing.
The trade off is clear: a strong and "fat" UNRWA means a "lean" and weak PA. In
Gaza, Hamas leadership grew stronger under the protection of UNRWA, and
undermined the PA efforts to gain control of Gaza. Many Palestinians openly criticize
this role of UNRWA and express the hope that "UNRWA is not forever." [24]
9
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn23%23_ftn23http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn24%23_ftn24http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn23%23_ftn23http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn24%23_ftn248/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
10/22
The following are a few working plans suggested by Palestinian scholars that show a
Palestinian desire and appeal for self reliance. "One possible way of easing the
transition (from UNRWA to the PA and other host governments) would be to create a
flexible transitional funding mechanism, which would allow donors to transfer
resources for a variety of purposes with some assurance of accountability and
transparency. Such a facility would work as a flexible multi-country, multi-purpose
mechanism for channeling donor assistance."[25] The possibility of UNRWA being in
charge of a transitional fund was not accepted because "donors would be concerned
whether the Agency could maintain the appropriate degree of objectivity if it were
asked to manage the financial aspects of the transfer of services."[26] Another
alternative suggested that "UNRWA might be gradually wound down over 2-5 year
period. During this period, its previous functions would be gradually assumed by host
governments. UNRWA might also take on new tasks, whether to assist host
governments in upgrading the quality of their own service delivery, or in assisting the
implementation of various aspects of a permanent status agreement. Or, UNRWA
would face an indeterminate transition period between initial agreement on a
framework for resolving the refugee issue and agreement on specific modalities. This
would then be followed by a subsequent wind down period of 2-5 years." [27]
Another alternative suggested: "A first step would need to be reaching of agreement
among key donor countries that the time had arrived for UNRWA and the PA, and
where possible, UNRWA and the host governments, to enter into firm arrangements
for the transfer, over a specific period, of UNRWA's functions to the PA and to those
regional governmentEstablishment of a cooperation agreement between UNRWA
and the PA, and the PA encompassing secondment of staff from the PA to UNRWA
schools and clinics, with the PA to be given additional financial assistance from the
donors for the purpose (to cover salary and allowance differentials). Increase
outsourcing to the PA of refugee education and health services. Refugee children
should be able to go to school wherever there is capacity in PA schools to absorb
them as currently happens to some extent in the West Bank." [28] "While the
government of Syria could absorb current UNRWA expenditures in Syria relatively
10
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn25%23_ftn25http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn26%23_ftn26http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn27%23_ftn27http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn28%23_ftn28http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn25%23_ftn25http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn26%23_ftn26http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn27%23_ftn27http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn28%23_ftn288/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
11/22
easily, the task is more difficult in LebanonJordan faces substantially greater relative
costs than do either Syria or Lebanon. Additional resources should be given to the PA
since in the Palestinian territories; there is no prospect that the Palestinian budget
could suddenly absorb the costs of providing under UNRWA health, education and
other social services in the immediate future."[29]
In summary, UNRWA's clients, the Palestinian people, are highly critical of the
"patron" that was imposed upon them. We agree with them that the termination of
UNRWA's operations is not only feasible but is imperative. Donors to UNRWA actually
harm the Palestinian community by perpetuating UNRWA's superfluous existence.
UNRWA is Neither an Exclusive Nor the Best Aid Provider
For sixty years, more than thirty international organizations, hundreds of NGOs, and
all members of the OECD have been transferring billions of dollars and in kind aid to
the Palestinian community. However, hardly any cost and benefit analysis is carried
out to compare the value and consequences of the generous, annual contributions to
UNRWA with the efficacy of aid given through other institutions. Notwithstanding the
lack of evidence that UNRWA's operation serves the cause of the Palestinian
community, in March 2009, at an international donor's conference in Sharm el-Sheikh,Egypt, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the administration's pledge of
$900 million aid package that includes hundreds of million to UNRWA. [30]
UNRWA is only one of many aid providers and indeed, the Palestinian environment
resembles an "aid bazaar" with international organizations and donor states
competing with each other over "who is the biggest aid provider". Donors come from
all creeds, faith, agenda, ideology, size, affiliation and intentions. The Big Four are the
USAID, the European Commission, the World Bank, and the United Nations
Development Program. Others include FAFO (The Norwegian Peace Building Center),
the Finnish government, the British Council, the Italian and Japanese governments,
and many international NGO, including Catholic relief, Care, Save the Children,
OXFEM, UNICEF, to name a few. All the aid providers work simultaneously, at the
11
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn29%23_ftn29http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn30%23_ftn30http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn29%23_ftn29http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn30%23_ftn308/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
12/22
same locations, and provide aid to the same population. In this diffused system,
UNRWA is seeking to preserve its dominance position even after its original task has
long been achieved.
We argue that UNRWA's operations are redundant and irrelevant vis--vis the vast
assistance campaigns executed by the international community. The US in particular
needs to stop transferring vast amounts of resources to UNRWA while the USAID is
simultaneously carrying out independent development projects to the same
population. . "Most aid to the Palestinians is provided by USAID to U.S.-based NGOs
operating in the West Bank and Gaza. Funds are allocated for humanitarian
assistance, economic development, democratic reform, improving water access and
other infrastructure, health care, education, and vocational training."[31] If the USAIDautonomously carries out all these development projects why provide UNRWA's
inefficient organization with billions of dollars for the same activities? Indeed, between
2002 and 2009 the US increased its contributions to the Palestinians by more than
200%-- from $ 72 million in 2002 to $ 150 million in 2006 and to $ 414 million in 2008!
The picture repeats itself with aid provided by the European Commission. In 2008 the
EC announced a contribution of $ 461 million Euros to be spent on humanitarian,
food, and non humanitarian projects.[32] The World Bank is carrying out
independently, a variety of community development projects in the west Bank and
Gaza, supporting a pioneering new community driven development project, the Village
and Neighborhood Development Project" (VNDP).[33] The UNDP (United Nations
Development Program) is also heavily involved in Palestinian community and
economic development projects.[34] UNDP autonomous operations include:
democratic governance, crisis prevention and recovery, environment, poverty
reduction, gender and HIV/AIDS. UNDP reports that its 2008 budget for economic aid
for Gaza was only $ 80 million, but this lean yet efficient project has already generated
over 50,000 jobs for Palestinian workers.[35] In addition since 2005, the Finish
government has also been assisting the education sector in the West Bank and Gaza.
12
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn31%23_ftn31http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn32%23_ftn32http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn33%23_ftn33http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn34%23_ftn34http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn35%23_ftn35http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn35%23_ftn35http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn31%23_ftn31http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn32%23_ftn32http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn33%23_ftn33http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn34%23_ftn34http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn35%23_ftn358/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
13/22
Clearly, UNRWA's expensive existence is not indispensable! Terminating UNRWA's
ineffective operations and shutting down its oversized bureaucracy will not result in
lack of assistance for the Palestinian people.
UNRWA Inhibits the Peace Process
For decades UNRWA has used scare tactics to claim that its existence is essential to
the peace process. The scare tactics seem to work because UNRWA's budget has
grown exponentially. UNRWA strongest argument is that the Palestinian "refugees"
need a patron to take care of them until a legitimate Palestinian government is
established and takes over UNRWA's operations. In early 1995, when the donors
proposed to begin a gradual transfer of UNRWA's operations to the newly created PA
and the other host governments, UNRWA raised strong objections to the plan insisting
that it should continue operating "for practical as well as political reasons"[36] We
argue that nothing is further from the truth.
UNRWA's original mandate was neither clear nor specific on the question of
"assist[ing] the refugees until their status was politically resolved". Our discussion
clearly shows that the status of West Bank and Gaza Palestinians has been resolved,
and UNRWA's services are redundant and superfluous. Jordan and Syria are tworecognized, functioning states that could and should take over UNRWA's operations
and provide all the necessary services equally, to all the Palestinians who have
resided for four generations amidst them.[37] The only place where emergency aid
may be needed is Lebanon. Here too, the international community is actively and
intensely involved in providing aid to the camps. UNRWA is only one of many well
funded non governmental and governmental aid organizations that provide assistance
to the camp residents (mostly non refugees)in Lebanon. In the case of Gaza and the
West Bank, UNRWA functions as a "non territorial government" competing with the PA
as it provides civil services to PA citizens. Since 1995, the PA has been the legitimate
Palestinian governing authority. It should run schools, operate health clinics, issue
building permits, and collect taxes. UNRWA's existence denies the aspiring
13
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn36%23_ftn36http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn37%23_ftn37http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn37%23_ftn37http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn36%23_ftn36http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn37%23_ftn378/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
14/22
Palestinian people the right to self-government and self-reliance. The rise of Hamas
may be linked partly to the PA's weakend authority
As we have shown, a major component in UNRWA's survival strategy is the nurturing
of a mutual dependence syndrome, so that the Palestinian community thinks it cannot
function without UNRWA's inflated bureaucracy. UNRWA needs the myth of "five
million refugees" and in exchange, provides the Palestinians free services. The truth is
that UNRWA's tactics actually hinder the peace process and any realistic resolution of
the refugee issue. UNRWA's baseless and inflated registration numbers feed the
impossible demand for a "right of return".
Thus, it is not surprising that UNRWA has consistently resisted any effort by Israeli
governments to resettle the "refugees". Immediately after the administration of the
West Bank and Gaza shifted from Egypt and Jordan to Israel as a result of the war of
1967, the Israeli Military Administration initiated a major camps reconstruction policy.
The plan involved moving the refugees to permanent housing, as well as widening
camps roads and improving Gaza infrastructure and living conditions, and demolition
of temporary shelters. In a complete violation of UNRWA's mandate, these positive
measures were vigorously protested by UNRWA, including protests before the UN
General Assembly, calling upon Israel to abandon its plans and refrain from any action
that might lead to resettlement of Palestinian refugees. Later, during the 1990s,
UNRWA rejected plans initiated by local Palestinian municipal authorities to annex the
residents of UNRWA's areas of control to the Palestinian areas of responsibility. Even
the request to strengthen the ties between UNRWA's clients and the local Palestinian
municipal authorities was rejected.[38]
In 2000, Palestinian leaders publicly expressed disappointment at UNRWA's
resistance to relinquish its responsibilities. "While the Oslo Process of 1993 renewed
the debate about the future of UNRWA, and for the first time since UNRWA was
established it is possible to see on the horizon the end of the Agency's mission and
UNRWA's ultimate dissolutionfive years later, however, the future of the Agency
remains unclear."[39] To date, UNRWA continues to deny the well known fact: most
14
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn38%23_ftn38http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn39%23_ftn39http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn38%23_ftn38http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn39%23_ftn398/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
15/22
refugees are long settled. Only an acknowledgment of this fact will move the peace
process forward.
UNRWA Violates Antiterrorist Laws and Conventions
UNRWA is a United Nations agency, and is expected to adhere to antiterrorism laws
and Security Council resolution. But UNRWA facilities, including schools, health clinics
and even hospitals, are used as training grounds and safe haven for guerrilla armies
and terrorists. The autonomous status of UNRWA has enabled the agency to ignore
these conventions with impunity. UNRWA, by its own admission, contravenes US law.
UNRWA's former Commissioner-General Peter Hansen admitted in 2004 that he was
sure that there are Hamas members on UNRWA's payroll and he did not see that as a
crime.[40] The donors, in particular the largest donor, the US, also ignore UNRWA's
disregard for international anti-terrorism laws. The US Congress has been
continuously approving generous contributions to UNRWA in spite of UNRWA's
violation of US laws. Section 301 of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act (PL 87-195) as
later amended by Congress to says: "No contributions by the United States shall be
made to UNRWA except on the condition that UNRWA takes all the possible
measures to assure that no part of the United States contribution shall be used to
furnish assistance to any refugee who is receiving military training as a member of the
so called PLO or any other guerrilla type organization or who has engaged in any act
of terrorism." While the USAID is taking major steps to ensure that US resources,
including its aid to the West Bank and Gaza, do not go to Hamas and Hezbollah
members, UNRWA does not.
Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute argues that "UNRWA does not have ready
access to information on refugees who are receiving military training from guerrillas.
As recently as December 2002, USAID 'cleared' several charity commitments to
receive funding despite information publicly tying them to Hamas."[41] As early as
2003, a GAO inquiry determined that UNRWA is in violation of US law. "UNRWA's
implementation of procedures to address section 301(c) is constrained by several
factors. First, it relies on host governments to review local jobs applicants. Also it can't
15
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn40%23_ftn40http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn41%23_ftn41http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn40%23_ftn40http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn41%23_ftn418/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
16/22
determine if its beneficiaries meet section 301( c) criteria owing to concerns for its
staff's safety and its inability to verify beneficiary responses."[42]
Another recent inquiry reached even harsher conclusions. "UNRWA makes no attempt
to weed out individuals who support extremist positions and some staff members
undoubtedly support violence to achieve these goals ".[43] UNRWA is using disturbing
tactics to permit keeping Hamas and Hezbollah members on its payroll. By denying
that these two organizations are "terrorism supporting organizations", as they are
identified in US law, UNRWA is able to keep their members on the payroll. Thus, when
vetting employees, questions about membership or support of Hamas and
Hezbollahare not asked nor is this information recorded.
In contrast to UNRWA's tolerance of Hamas and Hezballah activities, the PA and the
Jordanian governments denounce Hamas terrorist activities and systematically carry
out counter terrorism operations against them. A transfer of UNRWA's operations to
the PA and the host governments, e.g. giving the PA control of UNRWA's schools and
health care facilities in Gaza and the West Bank, would help weed out Hamas
members and prevent terrorists from using schools and health clinics as shelters.
Finally, UNRWA's damaging policies and its violation of section 301 (c) of US law
should be taken into account regarding US contributions to UNRWA.
Conclusion: Alternatives to UNRWA
As we have shown, UNRWA's self proclaimed status, as the best available and most
preferred provider of aid to the "Palestinian refugees" is wrong and misleading. We
have also shown that UNRWA's operations are harmful and damaging to the self-
reliance and autonomous governing of the PA. The redundancy of UNRWA was clear
at the donor conference that took place in 2007 in Paris. The President of the PA,
Mahmoud Abbas requested and was promised $ 7.4 billion in economic assistance,
for three years (2008-2010). The representatives of the 90 donor nations agreed that
the future of the Palestinian people is dependent on a strong and stable PA. The US
Congressional Research Service observed that "Experts advised that the PA stability
16
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn42%23_ftn42http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn43%23_ftn43http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn42%23_ftn42http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn43%23_ftn438/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
17/22
hinges on improved security, economic development, Israeli cooperation, and the
continuation of high levels of foreign assistance." [44] The facts show that UNRWA's
existence stands in the way of achieving all these goals. Notwithstanding, UNRWA
continues to perpetuate the myth that it is the "best show in town."
The billions donated to UNRWA reduce the amount of money available for aid to the
PA, making the PA a weaker potential partner for peace. To secure its permanent
existence, UNRWA uses scare tactics warning of disastrous consequences to the
peace process if its operations are curtailed. Consequently, no donor dares to reduce
or cut UNRWA's burgeoning budget. UNRWA's theme of the imagined "five million
distressed refugees" feeds the impossible demand for a "right of return." Following
UNRWA's path, in a few years we could be facing a fantastical "10 million distressedrefugee population," demanding a "right of return. By perpetuating this myth, UNRWA
has become a major problem not a solution.
The US is the largest donor and it should expose UNRWA's misleading tactics. The
US Congress has demanded transparency and accountability, to no avail. It is time to
put a lid on donations to UNRWA,gradually phasing out of UNRWA's operations. A
sixty-year entrenched bureaucracy has to be eliminated, and almost 30,000 UNRWA's
employees could and should be integrated either in the relevant local governments or
in the various international agencies that will take over UNRWA's operation. The
process will encounter opposition. "Affected parties would ensure an active, vocal
resistance in some quarters. But carefully managed, those sensitivities should not
prevent a well-considered series of reforms from going forward."[45] Critics might
claim that a central role in the transition for UN and other international organizations
will bring with it potential problems of interagency rivalry and bureaucratization. Also,
there certainly exists no common vision among UNRWA, UNHCR, UNDP and others,
as to what their respective contributions to a transition process might be. Even after
decades of simultaneous operation, there is very little vision at all, about the ability of
UN agencies (and UNRWA in particular) to plan for a phase out and transfer of
responsibilities. UNRWA certainly will put up a fight to secure its bureaucratic survival.
As early as 1995, when donors first seriously considered a gradual transfer of
17
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn44%23_ftn44http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn45%23_ftn45http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn44%23_ftn44http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn45%23_ftn458/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
18/22
responsibilities, UNRWA vehemently objected to any change in its status. " A reduced
UNRWA could have potential political consequencesfor the Palestinian Authority,
the host countries and the peace process itself."[46]
However, resolving the refugee problem requires the termination of UNRWA's
operation, and the US and the other major donors should not be intimidated by the
political sensitivity surrounding most of the transition initiatives. The transition has to
be carefully planned and the annual contributions should be gradually transferred from
UNRWA to the regional, host governments. The roles and responsibilities of all the
donors that will participate in the transition process should be discussed with the
relevant local governments as well as with the US government. Proper bills will have
to be passed. Congress, the White House and the Department of State, (USAID) willhave to develop a coherent, coordinated plan of action.
We suggest that the execution of the transition be managed by an international
working group that includes representatives of US government agencies, various
relevant United Nations agencies, the World Bank, representatives of donor
governments, in particular, the EC, representatives of UNRWA's Advisory
Commission, and finally, representatives of Israel, the PA and the other host
governments. The working group should divide the work among the members based
on the expertise and the ability of each government and agency to contribute and take
part in the transition period. UNRWA (or an UNRWA-successor agency calling upon
some of the same staff and facilities) might play a temporary role, for example, in
resettlement, economic development initiatives, the administration of refugee
compensation, or other possible components of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement on
the final resettlement of the refugee issue.
Other elements of the UN system can also contribute whether in conjunction with, or
instead of, UNRWA. The process will require a substantial degree of interagency
cooperation and coordination to assure an optimal and smooth transition. This is a
complex process that should not be delayed or avoided. UNRWA has to be phased
out, and only bold actions will yield the necessary results.
18
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn46%23_ftn46http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftn46%23_ftn468/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
19/22
Nitza Nachmias is a Senior Research Fellow at The Jewish-Arab Center, University of
Haifa and a Visiting Professor at the Department of Political Science, Towson
University, Maryland.
[1] Webrelief document: "UNRWA at 60", A concept paper.
[2] Paragraph 7 of UNGA Resolution 302 (IV) of December 8, 1949, established the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to administer the distribution of
food, shelter, clothing, medical treatment, and education for the refugees. The U.N.
General Assembly has renewed the UNRWA mandate ever since.
[3] See James G. Lindsay, "Fixing UNRWA", Policy Focus #91, The Washington
Institute for Near East Policy, January 2009.
[4]. "The Jalazon data show that half of the camp's household arrived from 1950onward and since then the movement into camps continued at a steady annual rate
of about 1 percent. ..most of the families had never been in a camp and decided to
move in because of advantages to be gained." Yoram Ben Porat and Emanuel Marx,
"Some Sociological and economic aspects of refugees camps on the West Bank," A
Ford Foundation Report (Santa Monica, Rand Corporation, August 1971), 9
[5]there is no logical or humanitarian argument to justify a UN organization providing
services such as education, health,and welfare to citizens of a member state in a non-
emergency situation." in James G. Lindsay, "Fixing UNRWA", 53
[6] UNRWA has accumulated a billion dollars in a pension fund, the "Providence
Fund", controlled by the Commissioner General, and never mentioned in the Agency's
annual Report.
[7] UNRWA's has a problem of double loyalty. "UNRWA's inexactitude of the data is
due to double loyalty of the local UNRWA staff." Baerwald, Paul. Survey of the
Development and Structure of UNRWA 1948-1967: (Jerusalem, The Hebrew
University, 1968), p. 5
[8] For example, since the creation of the Palestinian Authority in 1993, UNRWA has
been competing for development contracts with the PA's Palestinian Economic
Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR).
[9]. "Hamas is a social movement with thousands of activistsand it engages in
19
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref1%23_ftnref1http://www.relief.int/rw.nsf/db900SIDhttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref2%23_ftnref2http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref3%23_ftnref3http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref4%23_ftnref4http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref5%23_ftnref5http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref6%23_ftnref6http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref7%23_ftnref7http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref8%23_ftnref8http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref1%23_ftnref1http://www.relief.int/rw.nsf/db900SIDhttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref2%23_ftnref2http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref3%23_ftnref3http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref4%23_ftnref4http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref5%23_ftnref5http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref6%23_ftnref6http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref7%23_ftnref7http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref8%23_ftnref88/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
20/22
extensive political and social activities." Glenn E. Robinson, "Hamas as Social
Movement", in Quintan Wiktorowicz,(ed.): Islamic Activism,(Bloomington: Indiana
University Press, 2004), 112
[10] 1998 Report of the Commissioner General (July 1997-30 June 1998). Quoted in
Barry Rubin at al. "UNRWA: Refugee of Rejectionism", A report from the Global
Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center, May 8, 2008, p. 4.
[11] Efrat, Moshe. The Palestinian Refugees Social and Economic Survey: 1949-
1974, (Tel Aviv University, unpublished Master's thesis, 1976), p. 13
[12]. "Urges the governments of the countries in the area to assist, with due regard to
their constitutional processes, in the carrying out of this program (The program
allocated $200 million) for reintegration over and above such contributions as may be
made by local governments, to be carried out over a period of approximately three
years starting as of 1 July, 1951." General assembly resolution #413. , 26 January,
1952
[13] The British government also considered Iraq as one of the countries that would
absorb the refugees. Jacob Tovy, On Its Own Threshold, (Jerusalem: Ben Gurion
Research Institute, 2008), p. 5
[14] UNRWA acknowledges that it provides aid to anyone in need. UNRWA's official
cite, front page.
[15] United Nation Yearbook, 1987, p.325
[16] A GAO report of November 17, 2003
[17] UNRWA's response to these claims was less than satisfactory. See Andrew
Whitley response to James G. Lindsay review of UNRWA's operations. Policy Watch
# 1471: Special Policy Forum Report .
[18] Commissioner-General statement, Amman Jordan, 7 April 2009
[19] "This week thousands of children in Gaza will make an attempt to break the world
record for the number of kites flying in the same place at the same time". UNRWA
press release, 30 July, 2009.
[20] James G. Lindsay, Repairing the UN's Troubled System of Aid to Palestinian
Refugee, Washington DC: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Policy
Focus #91 | January 2009 p.27
20
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref10%23_ftnref10http://www.gloriacenter.org/submenus/articles/2008/rubin/5_8.asphttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref11%23_ftnref11http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref12%23_ftnref12http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref13%23_ftnref13http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref14%23_ftnref14http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref15%23_ftnref15http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref16%23_ftnref16http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref17%23_ftnref17http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref18%23_ftnref18http://www.un.org/UNRWA/newshttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref19%23_ftnref19http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref20%23_ftnref20http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref10%23_ftnref10http://www.gloriacenter.org/submenus/articles/2008/rubin/5_8.asphttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref11%23_ftnref11http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref12%23_ftnref12http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref13%23_ftnref13http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref14%23_ftnref14http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref15%23_ftnref15http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref16%23_ftnref16http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref17%23_ftnref17http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref18%23_ftnref18http://www.un.org/UNRWA/newshttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref19%23_ftnref19http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref20%23_ftnref208/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
21/22
[21] Plan is detailed in "UNRWA at 60" , UNRWA publication, p.3
[22] The World Bank. "Palestinian Economic Prospects: Gaza recovery and West
Bank Revival." Economic Monitoring Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, June 8,
2009. 12.
[23] Webrelief document "UNRWA at 60" a concept paper.
[24] A workshop meeting: "The Future of UNRWA", held February 19-20 in Minster
Lovell, U.K.
[25] Ibid.
[26] Ibid,. Summary report, p.5
[27] Ibid,. Summary report, p.2
[28] Bob Bowker, "The Political Management of Change in UNRWA," presented at the
Workshop on the future of UNRWA, Minster Lovell (UK), pp. 3-5
[29] Workshop on the future of UNRWA, 19-20 of February, 2000, in Minster Lovell,
U.K. p.5
[30] That includes: $300 million for humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza; $200
million in budget support for the PA; and $400 million to support the PA's Palestinian
Reform and Development Plan in the West Bank.
[31] Jim Zanotti, CRS Report, February 20, 2009, p.2
[32] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Sunday, 12 April, 2009
[33] A World Bank publication, June, 2008, www.worldbank.org
[34] Unlike UNRWA, UNDP employs only 300 primarily Palestinian staff members and
the agency subcontracts its projects to local and international contractors.
[35] UNDP publication, 2008 (no date)
[36]See details see "UNRWA and the transitional period: A five year perspective on
the role of the Agency," UNRWA Horizon Report, Vienna, January 31, 1995.
[37] International law requires the host government to provide equal civil services to
citizens and legal non citizens.
[38] Interviews in Jerusalem, with PASSIA officials, (Palestinian Academic Society for
the Study of International Affairs) February, 2008
[39] Badil Information & Discussion Brief, Issue No. 6, July 2000, p. 1
[40] In an interview to a Canadian radio station, 2004. The Jerusalem Post, January
21
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref21%23_ftnref21http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref22%23_ftnref22http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref23%23_ftnref23http://www.relief.int/rw/rwb.nsfhttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref24%23_ftnref24http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/MEPP/PRRN/papers/unrwa_role.htmlhttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref25%23_ftnref25http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref26%23_ftnref26http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref27%23_ftnref27http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref28%23_ftnref28http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref29%23_ftnref29http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref30%23_ftnref30http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref31%23_ftnref31http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref32%23_ftnref32http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref33%23_ftnref33http://www.worldbank.org/http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref34%23_ftnref34http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref35%23_ftnref35http://www.undp.ps/http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref36%23_ftnref36http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref37%23_ftnref37http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref38%23_ftnref38http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref39%23_ftnref39http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref40%23_ftnref40http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref21%23_ftnref21http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref22%23_ftnref22http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref23%23_ftnref23http://www.relief.int/rw/rwb.nsfhttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref24%23_ftnref24http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/MEPP/PRRN/papers/unrwa_role.htmlhttp://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref25%23_ftnref25http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref26%23_ftnref26http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref27%23_ftnref27http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref28%23_ftnref28http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref29%23_ftnref29http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref30%23_ftnref30http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref31%23_ftnref31http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref32%23_ftnref32http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref33%23_ftnref33http://www.worldbank.org/http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref34%23_ftnref34http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref35%23_ftnref35http://www.undp.ps/http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref36%23_ftnref36http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref37%23_ftnref37http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref38%23_ftnref38http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref39%23_ftnref39http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref40%23_ftnref408/14/2019 Unrwa at 60 by Nitza Nachmias
22/22
31, 2009. www.jpost.com/servlet
[41] Matthew Levitt, "Broken aid to the Palestinian" January 30, 2009
[42] GAO Report, Washington D.C., November 17, 2003, 3
[43] James G. Lindsay, Repairing the UN's Troubled System of Aid to Palestinian
Refugee, p.32
[44] Jim Zanotti, "US Foreign Aid to the Palestinian., p. 3
[45] Bob Bowker . Workshop on the future of UNRWA, Minster Lovell (UK), p. 6
[46] See "UNRWA and the transitional period: A five year perspective on the role of
the Agency," UNRWA Horizon Report, Vienna, January 31, 1995.
http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref41%23_ftnref41http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/category/members/matthew-levitt/http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref42%23_ftnref42http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref43%23_ftnref43http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref44%23_ftnref44http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref45%23_ftnref45http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref46%23_ftnref46http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref41%23_ftnref41http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/category/members/matthew-levitt/http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref42%23_ftnref42http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref43%23_ftnref43http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref44%23_ftnref44http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref45%23_ftnref45http://www.meforum.org/2481/unrwa-at-60-better-alternatives#_ftnref46%23_ftnref46