(Jerusalem Post) Steven J. Rosen and Daniel Pipes - The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has become an agency that perpetuates the refugee problem rather than contributing to its resolution. UNRWA does not work to settle refugees. Its camps and schools endlessly promote futile dream that the millions of descendants of refugees someday will "return" to their ancestors' homes in Israel. With funds provided by foreign governments, UNRWA helps one-third of the population in the West Bank and three-quarters in Gaza. Without these funds, Israel could face international demands that it assume the burden of care for these populations. Washington should treat UNRWA as a vehicle to deliver social services, nothing more. It should insist that UNRWA beneficiaries who either were never displaced or who already have citizenship in other countries are not refugees. Steven Rosen heads the Washington Project of the Middle East Forum and Daniel Pipes is president of the Forum.
2012-07-10 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive