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Israeli Parliament Bans UNRWA over Terrorism Ties, Faces International Backlash
(Fox News) Efrat Lachter - The Israeli Knesset on Monday passed legislation aimed at halting the operations of the terror-linked UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) within Israel. "Finally, the iron curtain has fallen on this terrorist organization that we have been fighting against," said Knesset member Yulia Malinovsky from the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, one of the bill's sponsors. This decision comes despite significant objections from the U.S. administration. U.S. pressure on Israeli politicians to stop the bill was unprecedented, involving direct calls from the U.S. ambassador to Israel to leaders of the major parties in the Knesset. International reactions condemning the Knesset's decision have been swift, especially from governments that have been hostile to the Jewish state. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said Monday: "UNRWA was infiltrated by Hamas many years ago. We have warned the Security Council. That is why today we are taking action that will limit UNRWA capabilities to function in Israel, and we will continue to work with UN organs that want to support humanitarian efforts. We are doing it with the WHO [World Health Organization], with UNICEF, on the polio vaccination campaign and on other campaigns."