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Lawmaker behind UNRWA Ban: "Our Goal Is Not to Stop the Humanitarian Aid"
(Times of Israel) Sam Sokol - Last week, Knesset members voted 92 to 10 to prohibit UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory, and 87-9 to bar state authorities from having any contact with the agency. "There are internationally recognized organizations that deal with humanitarian aid in all conflict zones. UNRWA was an anomaly. It doesn't exist in any other conflict zone that there's a specific organization just for one group," said Likud MK Dan Illouz, a co-sponsor of the second bill. "We've seen that what happens when such an organization gets built is that it ends up being an organization that has the perspective of one group, the Palestinian perspective. It gets embedded with groups like Hamas and extremist groups from that society and becomes a problem." "Our goal is not to stop the humanitarian aid. Our goal is for it to go through channels that are not pro-terror, pro-Hamas, but rather through channels like the World Food Program." The Prime Minister's Office said Israel is prepared to work with international partners, both in the 90 days before the legislation takes effect and afterward, to ensure that humanitarian aid would still reach Gazan civilians. "UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable. Since avoiding a humanitarian crisis is also essential, sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza now and in the future." Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, the sponsor of the first bill, said, "I can guarantee that there will not be a vacuum....The important international actors are aware of the fact that you need to work urgently to find a replacement for UNRWA." Concerns can be handled, he asserted, calling on Israel's allies and neighbors to pitch in on replacing UNRWA. "Our interest is that as soon as possible there will be a prosperous Gaza ruled by a non-corrupt and especially non-terror government."